What is a 'fool of a took'?

Answer 1

A fool of a took is an insult that the wizard Gandalf uses twice The Lord of the Rings triology: once when Peregrin (Pippin) Took idly tossed a stone into a deep well in the dwarf-hewn caverns of Moria, and again, in the form "tom-fool of a took" after Pippin gazes into the Orthanc panlantir after it was hurled to the ground by Grima, the troubled servant of Gandalf's wizard colleague Sauruman. The Tooks are a family of hobbits that are regarded as being dimwitted. When Gandalf calls Pippin a "fool of a Took" he's saying in effect that Pippin is living up (or down, in this case!) to his familiy's reputation. // This has become one of the most popular quotes from the Lord of the Ring books, as a quick Google search can verify.

NOTE: These are a couple of the *very* few times that Gandalf loses his temper with close friends: normally he is extremely kind-hearted and supportive - and not given to being quick tempered!! It should be noted however, that he never holds a grudge: he comforts and protects Pippin after his terrible encounter with Sauron via the seeing-stone, and in the battle of Minas Tirith defends Pippin even at risk of his own life.