Obs. Also 3–4 foli(e, folliche, (folik), 4–5 foly(e, 5 fooly, 6 follie, folyche. [ME. follich, f. fol, FOOL a. and sb. + lich -LY1.]
A. adj. Foolish; also, lewd, unchaste.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4361 (Cott.). ‘Bilete,’ he said, ‘þi foli will.’
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 233. A nyce folie couenant schulde nouȝt be i-holde.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 267. Þer ben manie foli lechis.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 52. No body shulde … make countenaunce nor lokes of foly loue there inne [the chirche], but yef it were of loue of mariage.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., III. 805/1. There kept his Shrouetide with great bankettings, dansings, and other follie pastimes.
1604. Breton, Pass, Sheph. (Grosart). 9/2.
| A Gowne of Yeluet and a chaine of pearle, | |
| Shall now bewitche mine eyes with folly gazes. |
B. adv. Foolishly; also, lewdly, unchastely.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 17. Ȝif ȝe þrafter þenne speken togedere folliche.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 27890 (Cott.).
| Drunkenhede dos … man folik be traist and glad, | |
| Quare he wit resun suld be radd. |
1340. Ayenb., 43. Þet uolk þet ne byeþ naȝt ine spoushod, louieþ ham togidere folliche.
c. 1369. Chaucer, Bk. Duchesse, 874. Hyr lokynge nas not foly sprad.
Hence † Folliness, foolishness.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 1278 (Trin.).
| Whenne I was dryuen fro paradis | |
| And lost hit bi my foly nys. |
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. iv. 155. The dotage or deceit or folynes or the bigiling of the persoones.
c. 1450. Burgh, Secrees, 2579. The rede [heerys] also be signe of ffoolynesse.
