Fool's gold

Fool's gold
Fool Fool, n. [OE. fol, n. & adj., F. fol, fou, foolish, mad; a fool, prob. fr. L. follis a bellows, wind bag, an inflated ball; perh. akin to E. bellows. Cf. {Folly}, {Follicle}.] 1. One destitute of reason, or of the common powers of understanding; an idiot; a natural. [1913 Webster]

2. A person deficient in intellect; one who acts absurdly, or pursues a course contrary to the dictates of wisdom; one without judgment; a simpleton; a dolt. [1913 Webster]

Extol not riches, then, the toil of fools. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other. --Franklin. [1913 Webster]

3. (Script.) One who acts contrary to moral and religious wisdom; a wicked person. [1913 Webster]

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. --Ps. xiv. 1. [1913 Webster]

4. One who counterfeits folly; a professional jester or buffoon; a retainer formerly kept to make sport, dressed fantastically in motley, with ridiculous accouterments. [1913 Webster]

Can they think me . . . their fool or jester? --Milton. [1913 Webster]

{April fool}, {Court fool}, etc. See under {April}, {Court}, etc.

{Fool's cap}, a cap or hood to which bells were usually attached, formerly worn by professional jesters.

{Fool's errand}, an unreasonable, silly, profitless adventure or undertaking.

{Fool's gold}, iron or copper pyrites, resembling gold in color.

{Fool's paradise}, a name applied to a limbo (see under {Limbo}) popularly believed to be the region of vanity and nonsense. Hence, any foolish pleasure or condition of vain self-satistaction.

{Fool's parsley} (Bot.), an annual umbelliferous plant ({[AE]thusa Cynapium}) resembling parsley, but nauseous and poisonous.

{To make a fool of}, to render ridiculous; to outwit; to shame. [Colloq.]

{To play the fool}, to act the buffoon; to act a foolish part. ``I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.'' --1 Sam. xxvi. 21. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Fool's Gold — Título Amor y tesoro (Argentina, Colombia y Mexico) Como locos... a por el oro (España) Ficha técnica Dirección Andy Tennant Producción Donald De Line Bernie Goldman …   Wikipedia Español

  • Fool's gold — Gold Gold (g[=o]ld), n. [AS. gold; akin to D. goud, OS. & G. gold, Icel. gull, Sw. & Dan. guld, Goth. gul[thorn], Russ. & OSlav. zlato; prob. akin to E. yellow. [root]49, 234. See {Yellow}, and cf. {Gild}, v. t.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Chem.) A… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fool's gold — n [U] 1.) a kind of yellow metal that exists in some rocks and looks like gold 2.) something that you think will be very exciting, very attractive etc but in fact is not …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • fool's gold — noun uncount 1. ) a yellow metal that looks like gold 2. ) something you are very attracted to that you later find is not worth very much …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • fool's gold — fool s′ gold′ n. mir iron or copper pyrites, sometimes mistaken for gold …   From formal English to slang

  • fool's gold — ► NOUN ▪ a brassy yellow mineral that can be mistaken for gold, especially pyrite …   English terms dictionary

  • fool's gold — ☆ fool s gold n. pyrite or chalcopyrite, both of which resemble gold in color …   English World dictionary

  • Fool's Gold — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Fool s Gold (littéralement l « or des fous ») est le surnom anglophone de la pyrite du fait de sa ressemblance avec ce métal précieux. Ce nom a… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Fool's Gold — Filmdaten Deutscher Titel: Ein Schatz zum Verlieben Originaltitel: Fool’s Gold Produktionsland: USA Erscheinungsjahr: 2008 Länge: 112 Minuten Originalsprache: Englisch …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Fool’s Gold — Filmdaten Deutscher Titel: Ein Schatz zum Verlieben Originaltitel: Fool’s Gold Produktionsland: USA Erscheinungsjahr: 2008 Länge: 112 Minuten Originalsprache: Englisch …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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