- full (adj.)
- O.E. full "completely, full," from P.Gmc. *fullaz (cf. O.Fris. ful, O.N. fullr, O.H.G. fol, Ger. voll, Goth. fulls), from PIE *ple- (see plenary). Adverbial sense was common in M.E. (full well, full many, etc.). Full moon was O.E. fulles monan; first record of full-blood in relation to racial purity is from 1812. Full house is 1710 in the theatrical sense, 1887 in the poker sense.
- full (v.)
- "to tread or beat cloth to cleanse or thicken it," late 14c., from O.Fr. fuler (see foil (v.)); O.E. had the agent-noun fuller, probably directly from L. fullo. The material called fuller's earth (silicate of alumina) is first recorded 1520s, so called because it was used in cleansing cloth.