'Fool's parsley' definitions:

Definition of 'fool's parsley'

(from WordNet)
noun
European weed naturalized in America that resembles parsley but causes nausea and poisoning when eaten [syn: fool's parsley, lesser hemlock, Aethusa cynapium]

Definition of 'Fool's parsley'

From: GCIDE
  • Parsley \Pars"ley\ (p[aum]rs"l[y^]), n. [OE. persely, persil, F. persil, L. petroselinum rock parsley, Gr. petrose`linon; pe`tros stone + se`linon parsley. Cf. Celery.] (Bot.) An aromatic umbelliferous herb (Carum Petroselinum), having finely divided leaves which are used in cookery and as a garnish. [1913 Webster]
  • As she went to the garden for parsley, to stuff a rabbit. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Fool's parsley. See under Fool.
  • Hedge parsley, Milk parsley, Stone parsley, names given to various weeds of similar appearance to the parsley.
  • Parsley fern (Bot.), a small fern with leaves resembling parsley (Cryptogramme crispa).
  • Parsley piert (Bot.), a small herb (Alchemilla arvensis) formerly used as a remedy for calculus. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Fool's parsley'

From: GCIDE
  • Fool \Fool\, n. [OE. fol, n. & adj., F. fol, fou, foolish, mad; a fool, prob. fr. L. follis a bellows, wind bag, an inflated ball; perh. akin to E. bellows. Cf. Folly, Follicle.]
  • 1. One destitute of reason, or of the common powers of understanding; an idiot; a natural. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A person deficient in intellect; one who acts absurdly, or pursues a course contrary to the dictates of wisdom; one without judgment; a simpleton; a dolt. [1913 Webster]
  • Extol not riches, then, the toil of fools. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other. --Franklin. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Script.) One who acts contrary to moral and religious wisdom; a wicked person. [1913 Webster]
  • The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. --Ps. xiv. 1. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. One who counterfeits folly; a professional jester or buffoon; a retainer formerly kept to make sport, dressed fantastically in motley, with ridiculous accouterments. [1913 Webster]
  • Can they think me . . . their fool or jester? --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • April fool, Court fool, etc. See under April, Court, etc.
  • Fool's cap, a cap or hood to which bells were usually attached, formerly worn by professional jesters.
  • Fool's errand, an unreasonable, silly, profitless adventure or undertaking.
  • Fool's gold, iron or copper pyrites, resembling gold in color.
  • Fool's paradise, a name applied to a limbo (see under Limbo) popularly believed to be the region of vanity and nonsense. Hence, any foolish pleasure or condition of vain self-satistaction.
  • Fool's parsley (Bot.), an annual umbelliferous plant (Aethusa Cynapium) resembling parsley, but nauseous and poisonous.
  • To make a fool of, to render ridiculous; to outwit; to shame. [Colloq.]
  • To play the fool, to act foolishly; to act the buffoon; to act a foolish part. "I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly." --1 Sam. xxvi. 21. [1913 Webster]