a. and sb. Obs. Forms: 3 follarge, 4–5 fole-, foollarge, 6–7 foole-large [a. OF. follarge, f. fol FOOL a. + large liberal, munificent, prodigal: see LARGE a. Cf. FOOLHARDY.]

1

  A.  adj. Foolishly liberal, prodigal, wasteful.

2

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 389. In spenynge he was fol large.

3

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 740. Certes he that is fool large, ne yeueth nat his catel but he leseth his catel.

4

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, III. viii. They that be fole large and waystours of theyr goodes.

5

1603.  H. Crosse, Vertue’s Commonwealth (1878), 69. Neither is he a wise man that is so foole-large in distributing his goods, to waste his patrimonie, especially vpon such vaine things whereof a short memorie or none at all doth remaine.

6

  B.  sb. 1. A prodigal, spendthrift.

7

a. 1420.  Hoccleve, De Regimine Principum, 4628.

        And syn fool large on gold settiþ his herte
  No more þan þe liberal.

8

  2.  = FOOL-LARGESSE.

9

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, III. viii. (1860), I iij. And ye shall vnderstonde that fole large is a ryght euyl vyce.

10