Silly
/ˈsɪli/noun
Having or showing a lack of good sense; foolish, or playful and not serious.
Did you know?In Old English, related forms of this word could mean happy, blessed, or innocent before the meaning darkened into “foolish” and “weak-minded.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*sæligaz
“blessed, happy, fortunate”
Old English
OE
sǣlig
“happy, prosperous, blessed, innocent”
Old English
OE
gesǣlġ
“fortunate, happy; later, simple or weak-minded”
Middle English
ME
sely
“happy, innocent; then pitiable, weak, foolish”
Modern English
English
silly
“foolish; lacking good sense, or lightly playful”