foible

noun

1. (in-plural)A quirk, idiosyncrasy, frailty, or mannerism; an unusual habit that is slightly strange or silly.

   “Try to look past his foibles and see the friendly fellow underneath.”

   “He knew that this was like the sudden impulse of a madman—incongruous even with his habitual foibles.”

   “Marguerite Blakeney was, above all, a woman, with all a woman’s fascinating foibles, all a woman’s most lovable sins.”

   “They made up for the respect with which unconsciously they treated him by laughing at his foibles and lamenting his vices.”

   “Final fillip in the Vice-President's study has been a boning up on Premier Khrushchev's favorite foible, proverbs. The bibulous Russian leader likes to throw out homely homilies in his speeches and conversations[…]”

2. A weakness or failing of character.

   “Jesus is reverenced as the one man who has lived unspotted by the world, free from human foibles, able to redeem mankind by his example.”

3. Part of a sword between the middle and the point, weaker than the forte.

adj

1. (obsolete)Weak; feeble.

   “The good Fencing-maſters, in France eſpecially, when they preſent a Foyle or Fleuret to their Scholars, tell him it hath two Parts, one of which he calleth the Fort or ſtrong, and the other the Foyble or weak […]”