punchinello

noun

pun·chi·nel·lo ˌpən-chə-ˈne-(ˌ)lō

1

capitalized : a fat short humpbacked clown or buffoon in Italian puppet shows

2

plural punchinellos : a squat grotesque person

Word History

Etymology

modification of Italian dialect polecenella

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of punchinello was in 1662

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Punchinello.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punchinello. Accessed 26 Jan. 2023.

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