Humorous. [f. as prec. + -(O)METER.] That which serves as a standard for the measurement of fools or of folly.
1837. Syd. Smith, 2nd. Let. Singleton, Wks. (1859), II. 285/1. I am astonished that these Ministers neglect the common precaution of a foolometer, with which no public man should be unprovided: I mean, the acquaintance and society of three or four regular British fools as a test of public opinion.
1851. Fraser’s Mag., XLIII. June, 633/1. The weakest intellect was the foolometer by which all brains were to be tried at lessons.
