Etymology

foley

F4O1L1E1Y4

Today it means: The creation of sound effects, and their addition to film and TV images. Full definition →

Irish Ó Foghlú ← Old Irish Ó Foghladha
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foley · noun1

  1. Old Irish · derived fromÓ Foghladha“plunderer”
  2. Irish · derived fromÓ Foghlú
  3. English todayfoley

From the surname Foley, itself from Irish Ó Foghlú and Old Irish Ó Foghladha (“plunderer”). The meanings related to sound effects are named after sound effects pioneer Jack Foley.

Foley · proper noun2

  1. Irish · derived fromÓ Foghladha“descendant of Foghlaidh”
  2. English todayFoley

Reduced Anglicized form of Irish Ó Foghladha (“descendant of Foghlaidh”), a byname from foghlaí (“plunderer, pillager, marauder, robber”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.