buffoon English · revision 2382

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bəˈfuːn/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|bouffon]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|it|buffone|t=jester]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''buffa'' “jest”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''buffare'' “to puff out the cheeks”, a comic gesture,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD) of imitative origin.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A kind of pantomime dance (1549, in Scots);^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) then, from 1585, a professional comic fool or jester.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense moved from the professional clown to anyone who indulges in low jests (1598),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and the word took on a note of contempt.^(OED 1989) Modern use stresses either the clownishness or the stupidity: a ludicrous figure, or a coarse, bumbling fool.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1549 – a pantomime dance.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1585 – a professional jester or clown.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1598 – a low jester, a wag (contemptuous).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1621 – ''buffoonery''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1638 – verb, to ridicule.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1672 – verb, to play the buffoon.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A clown or jester; someone who amuses others with tricks and jokes.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Someone given to coarse or undignified joking.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+ # A ludicrous, bumbling or stupid person.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[buffoonery]]

+ * [[buffoonish]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bouffant]]

+ * [[buffa]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}