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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.

Foly, Folie, n. Also: folye, follie; pl. foleis. [ME. foly(e, folie, OF. folie, f. fol foolish.]

1. Foolishness, folly. 1375 Barb. i. 344.
To fenyhe foly quhile is wyt Ib. vi. 355.
Hardyment vith foly is vis a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 1135.
Full gret foly it is To sper that manis wit excedis c1420 Wynt. vii. 3452.
Yhe rawe, and tratelys all foly 1456 Hay I. 286/26.
Gif fulis throu thair foly be sa daft that thai wage bataill for lytill c1475 Wall. i. 54.
Foly it was … Succour to sek of thar alde mortale fa Ib. v. 944.
This is bot waist foly c1515 Asl. MS. I. 180/23.
It is folie and vanite to ony man [etc.] 1549 Compl. 14/3.
Thy philosophour … maye be callit the mirrour of folye 1562-3 Winȝet II. 10/35.
The folie, ȝea, the phrenesie of thir proud pestilent Protestantis 1603 Philotus cxi.
Ane faith perfumit with fyne folie

2. An instance or act of folly. 1456 Hay II. 64/10.
All sik folyis … castis men of Goddis grace c1460 Consail Wys Man 441.
Gyf thow has ony foleis done, Schaw to the prest a1500 Rauf C. 524.
I defend we fecht or fall in that foly 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 57.
Geif wear brekks vp of thys foly laitly done on the border a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxxi. 1.
Amang folyis [Q. foleis] ane grit folye I find

3. Foly hat, a hat resembling a fool's cap. 1513 Doug. iv. v. 79.
Abufe his hed … Set lyke a mytir the Troiane foly hat [L. mitra] Ib. vi. Prol. 16.
Gif you list not wirk eftir the wis[e], Heich on ȝour hede set vp the foly hat 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4385 (B).
I haif foly hattis to sell