court fools
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
From mediaeval times till the 17th century licensed fools or jesters were commonly kept at court, and frequently in the retinue of wealthy nobles.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “court fools” mean?
From mediaeval times till the 17th century licensed fools or jesters were commonly kept at court, and frequently in the retinue of wealthy nobles.
Is “court fools” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.