A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1501, 1597-1598, 1681
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Fule, Fuil, a. Also: ful, fool(e. [ME. foole, fole, fol (a 1225), OF. fol.] Foolish. 1375 Barb. iv. 223.
He was fule That gaf treuth to that creature a1400 Legends of the Saints xvi. 471.
Quhene I desyrit barnis to hafe, Thane wes I fule ?1438 Alex. i. 241.
Ȝon proud King … fairis as he war fule or wode 1456 Hay I. 287/6.
That otheris tuke ensample … to gage bataill for sik fule causis 1456 Ib. II. 157/27.
Sum man wys as a bee or ane emot, ane othir fule as a buterflee c1460 Wisdom of Solomon 564.
It is better a pur wys barne na an auld fule kinge c1420 Wynt. viii. 1455 (C).
Thai … for thar fuyl presumcion Sulde fal in to confusion 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 28.
Ane fuil menstraill with mony mow and sport a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 16 b.
Pennie wise, pound foole 1681 Colvil: Whig's Suppl. ii. 32.
Fighting is a fool thing
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"Fule adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/fule_adj>
