foolometern.
/fuːˈlɒmᵻtə/, U.S. /fuˈlɑmədər/ humorous. Now rare.
A standard or device for the measurement of foolishness or folly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > [noun] > science of fools > measurement of
foolometer1836
1836 Home & Foreign Rev. Oct. 540 Tessa is a foolometer, showing how little womanhood is wanted to balance all the manly intelligence and will of Tito.
1837 S. Smith 2nd Let. to Singleton in Wks. (1859) II. 285/1 I am astonished that these Ministers neglect the common precaution of a foolometer..I mean, the acquaintance and society of three or four regular British fools as a test of public opinion.
1851 Fraser's Mag. 43 633 The weakest intellect was the foolometer by which all brains were to be tried at lessons.
1961 Indianapolis News 20 Feb. 6/4 It is very seldom that a majority of the congressmen will sign a discharge petition. Why? Well, my friends, here is where the clicking of the foolometer can be heard.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1836