vbl. sb. [f. FOOL v. + -ING1.] The action of the vb., in various senses.
1609. Dekker, Gulls Horne-bk., Proem. Wks. (Grosart), II. 205. He may be promoted to serue any Lord in Europe, as his crafty foole, or his bawdy Jester, yea and to be so deere to his Lordship, as for the excellency of his fooling, to be admitted both to ride in Coach with him, and to lie at his very feete on a truckle-bed.
1681. Colvil, Whigs Supplic. (1695), 99.
| With Luther, Rotman, Knipper-dolings, | |
| Who troubled Munster with their Foolings. |
1746. Wesley, Princ. Methodist, 46. I am glad you give this fooling up, and hope for the future, you will treat your readers better.
1891. Baring-Gould, In Troubadour-Land, ix. 125. They laid down rules for love; they allowed married women to receive the homage of lovers, and even nicely directed all the symptoms they were to exhibit of reciprocation. But it is quite possible that this was all solemn fooling, and meant no harm.
b. Preceded by an adj. = Condition or humor for fooling.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., I. v. 36. Put me into good fooling. Ibid., II. iii. 23. Thou wast in very gracious fooling last night. Ibid., 86. Clo. Beshrew me, the knights in admirable fooling.
1827. Scott, Jrnl., 3 April. I drank a glass or two of wine more than usual, got into good spirits, and came from Tripoli for the amusement of the good company. I was in good fooling. Ibid. (1830), 21 June. The day continued dropping occasionally, but Sir Adam was in high fooling, and we had an amazing deal of laughing.
