Fool's cap

Fool's cap
Fool Fool, n. [OE. fol, n. & adj., F. fol, fou, foolish, mad; a fool, prob. fr. L. follis a bellows, wind bag, an inflated ball; perh. akin to E. bellows. Cf. {Folly}, {Follicle}.] 1. One destitute of reason, or of the common powers of understanding; an idiot; a natural. [1913 Webster]

2. A person deficient in intellect; one who acts absurdly, or pursues a course contrary to the dictates of wisdom; one without judgment; a simpleton; a dolt. [1913 Webster]

Extol not riches, then, the toil of fools. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other. --Franklin. [1913 Webster]

3. (Script.) One who acts contrary to moral and religious wisdom; a wicked person. [1913 Webster]

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. --Ps. xiv. 1. [1913 Webster]

4. One who counterfeits folly; a professional jester or buffoon; a retainer formerly kept to make sport, dressed fantastically in motley, with ridiculous accouterments. [1913 Webster]

Can they think me . . . their fool or jester? --Milton. [1913 Webster]

{April fool}, {Court fool}, etc. See under {April}, {Court}, etc.

{Fool's cap}, a cap or hood to which bells were usually attached, formerly worn by professional jesters.

{Fool's errand}, an unreasonable, silly, profitless adventure or undertaking.

{Fool's gold}, iron or copper pyrites, resembling gold in color.

{Fool's paradise}, a name applied to a limbo (see under {Limbo}) popularly believed to be the region of vanity and nonsense. Hence, any foolish pleasure or condition of vain self-satistaction.

{Fool's parsley} (Bot.), an annual umbelliferous plant ({[AE]thusa Cynapium}) resembling parsley, but nauseous and poisonous.

{To make a fool of}, to render ridiculous; to outwit; to shame. [Colloq.]

{To play the fool}, to act the buffoon; to act a foolish part. ``I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.'' --1 Sam. xxvi. 21. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • fool's cap — n. a cap, usually with bells, formerly worn by a court fool or jester …   English World dictionary

  • fool's cap — fool s′ cap n. 1) clo a traditional jester s cap or hood, often multicolored and usu. having several drooping peaks from which bells are hung 2) dunce cap • Etymology: 1625–35 …   From formal English to slang

  • fool's cap — noun a cone shaped paper hat formerly placed on the head of slow or lazy pupils • Syn: ↑dunce cap, ↑dunce s cap • Hypernyms: ↑hat, ↑chapeau, ↑lid * * * noun see foolscap * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • fool's cap — noun A cap, usually brightly coloured with bells and tassels, as worn by a court jester or fool. See Also: foolscap …   Wiktionary

  • fool's cap — 1. a traditional jester s cap or hood, often multicolored and usually having several drooping peaks from which bells are hung. 2. See dunce cap. [1625 35] * * * …   Universalium

  • fool's cap — /ˈfulz kæp/ (say foohlz kap) noun a kind of cap or hood, usually hung with bells, formerly worn by professional jesters …  

  • fool's cap — noun see foolscap …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • fool's-cap — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Fool — Fool, n. [OE. fol, n. & adj., F. fol, fou, foolish, mad; a fool, prob. fr. L. follis a bellows, wind bag, an inflated ball; perh. akin to E. bellows. Cf. {Folly}, {Follicle}.] 1. One destitute of reason, or of the common powers of understanding;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fool's errand — Fool Fool, n. [OE. fol, n. & adj., F. fol, fou, foolish, mad; a fool, prob. fr. L. follis a bellows, wind bag, an inflated ball; perh. akin to E. bellows. Cf. {Folly}, {Follicle}.] 1. One destitute of reason, or of the common powers of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”