"ship of fools?"

Posted by Theresa on April 17, 2006

What is the origin of the phrase "ship of fools?" I've been told it was from the Middle Ages, when some city states in Italy had ships of crazy people going from harbor to harbor to help them come to their senses.

• "Ship of fools?" Smokey Stover 17/April/06
  • "Ship of fools?" Bob 17/April/06
    • "Ship of fools?" Smokey Stover 17/April/06
      • Still confused, but less. Bob 18/April/06