Origin: 1610–20; < French, earlier fait-nient, literally, he does nothing, pseudo-etymological alteration of Old Frenchfaignant idler, noun use of present participle of se faindre to shirk. See feign, faint
1610s (n.), from Fr. fainéant (16c.) do-nothing, from fait, third person singular present tense of faire + néant nothing (cf. dolce far niente). As an adj., from 1855.