Zanni

noun

Zan·​ni
ˈ(d)zänē
plural Zanni or Zannis
1
: a madcap clown in masked comedy traditionally from Bergamo, Italy usually playing the part of a comic servant and indulging in acrobatic antics and tricks compare pierrot
2
: a clown resembling Harlequin

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Italian dialect (Lombardy) Zanni, nickname from the name Italian Giovanni John, from Late Latin Joannes

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Cite this Entry

“Zanni.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Zanni. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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