Woolgathering
/ˈwʊlˌɡæðərɪŋ/noun
Idle daydreaming or absent-minded thinking.
Did you know?The word was once used for a harmless-looking kind of foolish wandering attention, and by the 16th century it had become a sharp insult for someone mentally off-task.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰedʰ-
“to unite, join, or collect”
Old English
OE
wull
“wool, the fleece of sheep”
Old English
OE
gaderian
“to gather, collect, bring together”
Middle English
ME
wolle-gadering
“gathering wool; later, aimless wandering or daydreaming”
16th Century
English
woolgathering
“absent-mindedness; foolish or idle reverie”
Modern English
English
woolgathering
“daydreaming or distracted thinking”