- April fool
- 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.
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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.
