Plural of folly; foolish acts or ideas that show poor judgment, or decorative buildings built just for decoration.
From Old French 'folie' (foolishness), from Latin 'follis' (bellows, or metaphorically, an empty-headed person). The architectural meaning developed in the 18th century for decorative structures on estates.
Wealthy English landowners built actual 'follies'—fake ruins and tower structures that served zero practical purpose. It's literally called a 'folly' because it was foolish to spend money on them, but they're now prized historical sites!
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