Obs. Also 5 fone, 5–6 fonn(e. [Belongs to FON v.; but the mutual relation of the words is uncertain.
It is tempting to connect the sb. with Sw. fån(e, MDa. fåne fool, mod. Icel. fáni swaggerer, vain person; but the history of the Eng. words shows no trace of a long vowel, and the northern Eng. forms have o, and not the a which in that dialect normally represents ON. á. Besides, the primary sense of the Eng. vb. appears to be ‘to lose savor, become insipid,’ and if so the sb. is prob. from the vb.]
A. sb. A fool.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9185 (Cott.).
| O þis manasses com amon, | |
| þat, als his fader, was a fon. |
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 4051.
| After Eldolf, þys folted fon, | |
| Cam his sone hight Redyon. |
c. 1450. Cov. Myst., 367.
| Jhesus. A! ȝe ffonnys and slought of herte | |
| ffor to beleve in holy Scrypture! |
c. 1450. Life of St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 5385.
| In his boke says salomon | |
| Þat god some tyme chastys a fonn | |
| And he is made mare wyse. |
1526. Skelton, Magnyf., 1200. Wenyst thou that I cannot make the play the fon?
1595. Spenser, Col. Clout, 292.
| Ah Cuddy (then quoth Colin) thous a fon, | |
| That hast not seene least part of natures worke. |
B. adj. Foolish, silly.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., lx. 248 (Harl. MS.). The lion stode be-syde him, as he hadde be a ffonne shepe.
1538. Starkey, England, I. i. 24. Yf wyse men, in tyme and in place, wold haue bent themselfe to that purpos, leuyng such fon respecte of tyme and of place.
Hence Fonly adv., foolishly, fondly; Fonnish a., somewhat foolish.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. iv. 156. Thilk fonnysch opinioun may soone bi wise men be schewed to the holder to be vntrewe.
1481. Tiptoft, trans. Cicero’s De Amic. (1530), B viij. What may be a more fonnysh thyng than whan men haue grete plente of richesse, to pourueye such thynges as they doo.
1526. Skelton, Magnyf., 659. Clo. Col. Tusshe! fonnysshe Fansy, thou arte frantyke.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., May, 57.
| I (as I am) had rather be enuied, | |
| All were it of my foe, than fonly pitied. |
