Where does “fool” come from?

fool (Middle English) comes from Old French fol, from Latin follis, from Proto-Indo-European bʰelǵʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰel-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰōl-.

fool (Middle English): Alternative form of fole

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of fole

Ancestry of “fool”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchfolmad; insane; foolish; silly
2Latinfollisbellows; purse, sack, money bag; a small value...
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰelǵʰ-to swell
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰel-to sound; to speak, roar, bark; shiny, white; to...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰōl-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰōl- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰelǵʰ- →