FOLLY
NOUNS
► folly → UNWISDOMNESS c1200 obs.
► foolishness; folly → DUSILEC a1225 obs.
► foolishness; folly → DUSISCHIP a1225 obs.
► folly → UNWITSHIP a1240 obs.
► madness, folly, rashness; an instance of this; a foolish act → RAGE a1300 obs.
► foolishness, folly → FOLABILITY a1529 obs.
► an absurdity; a piece of folly or nonsense → TRIM-TRAM 1533 obs.
► light-headedness, imbecility; delirium; also, folly, foolishness, silliness → IDLENESS a1536 obs.
► foolishness, folly; madness, mental confusion → DOTERY 1587 obs.
► foolishness, folly → GUCKRY 1596 Sc. obs.
► a silly speech, foolish talking; folly, nonsense → MOROLOGY 1596 obs.
► a piece of foolishness or folly → SOTTERY 1598 obs.
► something unsuitable, out of place, trivial, or irrational; an incongruity; a trifle, absurdity, piece of folly → IMPERTINENCES 1603
► something that arises from folly → DOTE 1643 obs.
► folly, silliness, stupidity; infatuation → FATUITY 1648
► foolish or silly behaviour or conduct; foolishness, folly → SIMPLES 1648 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► madness, trouble of mind, folly, doting → VECORDY 1656
► folly, silliness, stupidity; infatuation → FATUOSITY 1681 obs.
► folly, absurdity → MAGGOTRY 1706 obs.
► folly, stupidity → DAFF 1728 Sc. obs.
► folly, foolishness, gaiety, sportiveness; thoughtlessness → DAFFERY 1768 Sc. obs.
► folly, foolishness; thoughtlessness → DAFFRY 1768 Sc. obs.
► gaiety, sportiveness, fooling, folly → DAFFING 1787 Sc.
► madness, trouble of mind, folly, doting → VECORD 1788
► a piece of folly or nonsense; a whim, a piece of foolishness → HAIVER 1793 Sc.
► folly, idiocy → GABY 19C Eng. dial.
► gross folly or stupidity → JACKASSERY 1833
► fatuity, foolishness, folly → ADDLE-HEADEDNESS 1835
► gross folly or stupidity → JACKASSISM a1845
► madness, folly, frantic rage, tantrums; boisterous fun, wild pranks, hilarity → MADDERAM • MADDERDOM 1866 Sc.
► folly, rioting of a frolicsome kind, revelling; a loud uproar → GARRAIVERY 1882 Sc.
► idiocy, folly → IDIOTRY 1887 Sc.
► foolishness, folly → SAPPINESS Bk1914 colloq.
► nonsense; folly → MACARONI 1924 Aust. sl.
PHRASES
► expressive of great folly → NEED BLEEDING FOR THE SIMPLES 1869 Eng. dial.
VERBS
► to indulge in reckless wickedness or folly and suffer the disastrous consequences → SOW THE WIND AND REAP THE WHIRLWIND 1382
► to commit youthful excesses or follies → SOW ONE’S WILD OATS 1576
► to be cured of one’s folly; applied to one who has been guilty of some foolish act → BE CUT FOR THE SIMPLES a1700 Eng. dial.
Lexicophilia 