merry-andrew

noun

mer·ry-an·drew ˌmer-ē-ˈan-(ˌ)drü

variants often Merry-Andrew

Synonyms of merry-andrew next

next

: a person who clowns publicly

Word History

Etymology

merry + Andrew, proper name

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of merry-andrew was in 1677

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

merry

merry-andrew

merrybell

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Merry-andrew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merry-andrew. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

doughty

Listen to the pronunciation of doughty

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Using Bullet Points ( • )

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

Popular

Using Bullet Points ( • )

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs