punchinello
1
9.9
A funny puppet or person who acts silly to make people laugh
- noun
- /ˌpʌnʧɪˈnɛloʊ/
- Archaic
:
punchinelo
Synonyms
clown
vspunchinello
372
1.0
A performer who wears bright clothes and makes people laugh
is more linked to traditional theater and puppet performances
43
7.4
A person who acts in a silly way to make others laugh
is more specific to theatrical or puppet comic characters than general foolishness
jester
vspunchinello
23
7.4
A person who entertains a king or queen with jokes and tricks
is less historical and more about traditional puppet and theater comedy
zany
vspunchinello
3
8.1
A person who acts in a funny, silly way to make people laugh
is more tied to established theater or puppet comic roles
9.9
A person who acts like a clown to make others laugh
matches the same traditional puppet and theatrical focus rather than general jesting
9.9
A funny clown who acts silly and makes mistakes to make people laugh
is broader, covering traditional theater and puppet comic figures too
Antonyms
15
7.5
A performer who plays a serious role in a comedy to make the other person's jokes funnier
Surface Forms
punchinello singular
punchinelli plural
Etymology
Punchinello comes from the Italian puppet Pulcinella, a funny clown character from Naples. The name is linked to pulcino 'little chick', which suggests a small, silly puppet, so a punchinello means a clown or a person who acts foolishly.