noun
- foolish or absent-minded people; simpletons
Usage: archaic; literary
Examples
- The villagers dismissed them as mere mooncalves who believed every wild tale.
- Shakespeare’s characters often mocked the mooncalves who fell for obvious tricks.
- The con artist easily swindled the mooncalves with his elaborate scheme.
- Don’t be such mooncalves—think before you act on every rumor you hear.
- The wise merchant knew better than to trust business deals to mooncalves.