Follyhood
/ˈfɒliˌhʊd/noun
The state or quality of being foolish.
Did you know?Its first element ultimately traces to Latin follis, meaning “bellows” or “leather bag,” which developed into the image of a person metaphorically puffed up but empty inside.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bhel-
“To blow, swell, or become inflated; a reconstructed root associated with fullness and air.”
Classical Latin
Latin
follis
“A bellows, leather bag, or inflated object; later, figuratively, an empty-headed person.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
follis
“A fool or simpleton, preserving the metaphor of something hollow or puffed up.”
Old French
Old French
fol / folle
“Foolish, mad, or lacking good judgment.”
Middle English
English
folly
“Foolishness, reckless behavior, or an unwise action.”
Early Modern English
English
follyhood
“The condition or quality of being foolish.”