Middle English Dictionary Entry
fōlt n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fōlt n. Also folet. |
| Etymology | OF folet. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A stupid or silly person, a fool.
Associated quotations
- c1390 Disp.GM & Devil (Vrn)322 : Hit was neuer forbode of no wys mon, But of sum folte þat no good ne con.
- c1390 Talking LGod (Vrn)350 : He is a folte, þat sold haþ his soule for stinkynde lustes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4023 : Or ellis he is a fool [vr. folt], as clerkes sayn.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)8299 : A kaynard and an olde folte.
- a1400 Floris (Eg 2862)87/545 : Þou art a Folt.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)168 : Folette: Fatuellus, stolidus, follus.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)169 : Folte, idem quod folet.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)170 : Foppe..idem quod folet.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)265 : Ioppe, or folte: Joppus.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)4527 : Sire Iulius Cesar was ful queynte..A folet [vr. a felon; F felon] couþe he wel adaunte, To proude men þer wylle graunte.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)14364 : His cosyn Conan..was a folt, a mysproud man.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)315/261 : Yone folte, for no foole schall he fynde vs.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)49b : A ffolte: blas, liburnus, blatus, bardus, gerro, jneptus, nugator, murio.