Silly or foolish; having a head full of feathers instead of brains, used to describe someone who is not very intelligent or thoughtful.
Compound of 'feather' and 'pated' (having a pate or head); originated in the 16th century as a humorous insult suggesting someone's head is as light and insubstantial as a feather.
This insult perfectly captures how people in the 1500s imagined stupidity—as if a fool's brain was literally replaced by feathers, making them lightweight and unable to think seriously. It's one of Shakespeare's favorite ways to roast someone!
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