tomfool

American  

[tom-fool] / ˈtɒmˈful /

noun

1. a grossly foolish or stupid person; a silly fool.

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adjective

1. being or characteristic of a tomfool.

tomfool British  

/ ˌtɒmˈfuːl /

noun

1. 1. a fool

   2. ( as modifier )

      tomfool ideas

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Other Word Forms

• tomfoolish
  adjective
• tomfoolishness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of tomfool

1325–75; Middle English Thome fole Tom the fool

Example Sentences

Their own father, an amiable giant nearly seven foot tall, lacked the drive and ambition of his sons, and he refused to support this tomfool idea.

From "Boy: Tales of a Childhood" by Roald Dahl

And think of that tomfool of a Tommy-Bill-beg sending the man to me.

From She's All the World to Me by Caine, Hall, Sir

And, say, for a minute there, after Gridley had got the drift of that tomfool remark, I didn’t know whether he was goin’ to throw Marmaduke through the window, or have another fit.

From Odd Numbers Being Further Chronicles of Shorty McCabe by Ford, Sewell

"Before we go any further," said Megger rudely, "I don't share your tomfool ideas about the rogue!"

From The Sins of Séverac Bablon by Rohmer, Sax

"You'll admit it was a tomfool thing to do," he said.

From Greatheart by Dell, Ethel M. (Ethel May)