Fōōl1, n.
n. [Fr. fol, fou, foolish, mad; Pr. fol, folh, O. Sp. fol, It. folle; of Celtic origin: Armor. foll, W. ffôl, silly, foolish.]
Sense 1. One who is destitute of reason, or the common powers of understanding; an idiot; a natural.
Sense 2. A person deficient in intellect, one who acts absurdly, or pursues a course contrary to the dictates of wisdom; a simpleton; a dunce; a dolt.
Extol not riches, then, the toil of fools. Milton.
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other. Franklin.
Sense 3. (Script.) One who acts contrary to moral and religious wisdom; a wicked person.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Ps. xiv. 1.
Sense 4. One who counterfeits folly; a professional jester or buffoon; a retainer formerly kept by persons of rank or wealth for the purpose of making sport, dressed fantastically in motley, with a pointed cap on the head, and a mock scepter in the hand, &c.
I scorn, although their drudge, to be their fool or jester. Milton.
Fool's errand, an absurd or fruitless search or enterprise; the pursuit of what can not be found; the undertaking what is impossible. Booth. — To make a fool of, to cause to appear ridiculous; to give a mortifying check to; to defeat or deceive in a shameful or ridiculous manner. — To play the fool, to act the buffoon; to behave like one void of understanding. — To put the fool on, to charge with folly; to account as a fool.