fop
UK[fɒp]US[fɑːp]
n
A man who is excessively concerned with his clothes and appearance; a dandy.
Etymology
The word 'fop' emerged in late 17th-century England, likely as a clipped form of the earlier, now obsolete, term 'fopdoodle'. While its ultimate origin is uncertain, it is thought to be connected to the Middle English verb 'foppen', meaning 'to fool' or 'to deceive'. This etymological link suggests that the core concept behind a fop was not merely a well-dressed man, but one whose excessive vanity and affectation made him appear foolish or ridiculous. Over time, the term shed its explicit connection to folly and settled into its modern, more specific meaning denoting a man who is an excessively fastidious and affected follower of fashion.
Analysis
The word is a simplex. It is a likely shortening of the obsolete term 'fopdoodle', a compound of uncertain origin, perhaps from Middle English 'foppen' (to fool) and 'doodle' (simpletion).
Examples
He was considered a mere fop, more interested in his cravat than in conversation.
The play satirizes the fops and dandies of the Restoration period.
Despite his elegant attire, he was no fop, but a man of serious intellect and action.