Etymology Map
Back to all words

Fool

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a person who acts unwisely

Where does the word "fool" come from? It comes from Latin follis, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
follis
Latin · ancient
"bellows"
a bag of air, used in Late Latin for an empty-headed person
2
Stage 2 of 3
fol
Old French · medieval
"madman, jester"
court jesters were called 'fols'
3
Stage 3 of 3
fool
English · 1200s
"a silly person"
'April Fool' dates from the 1600s
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Fool’s story begins in Latin: follis meant “bellows.” A bag of air, used in Late Latin for an empty-headed person. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as fol. Court jesters were called 'fols'. It reached English by 1200s as fool. 'April Fool' dates from the 1600s. Today, fool means a person who acts unwisely.