felon

UK: /ˈfɛlən/ US: /ˈfɛlən/ ,(fel′ən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

fel•on¹ /ˈfɛlən/   n. [countable]

1. Law a person who has committed a felony.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

fel•on¹  (fel′ən), n. 

1. Law a person who has committed a felony.
2. [Archaic.] a wicked person.

adj. 

3. [Archaic.] wicked;
   malicious;
   treacherous.

• Old Low Franconian *fillo, noun, nominal corresponding to Old Saxon fillian to ill-treat, whip, Middle Dutch villen to flay, Old High German fillen to beat, whip; compare fell³
• Anglo-French; Old French fel (nominative), felun (oblique) wicked person, traitor, perh.
• Middle English fel(o)un wicked 1250–1300

fel•on²  (fel′ən), n. 

1. Pathology an acute and painful inflammation of the deeper tissues of a finger or toe, usually near the nail: a form of whitlow.

• Medieval Latin fellōn- (stem of fellō) scrofulous tumor, of uncertain origin, originally
• late Middle English felo(u)n 1375–1425

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

felon / ˈfɛlən/ noun

1. (formerly) a person who has committed a felony

adjective

1. evil; cruel

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French: villain, from Medieval Latin fellō, of uncertain origin

felon / ˈfɛlən/ noun

1. a purulent inflammation of the end joint of a finger, sometimes affecting the bone

Etymology: 12th Century: from Medieval Latin fellō sore, perhaps from Latin fel poison