Falstaff

American  

[fawl-staf, -stahf] / ˈfɔl stæf, -stɑf /

noun

1. Sir John, the jovial, fat knight of brazen assurance and few scruples in Shakespeare's Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2, and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

2. (italics) an opera (1893) by Giuseppe Verdi, with a libretto by Arrigo Boito based on the Shakespearean character.

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Falstaff Cultural  

1. An endearing, fat, aging rogue who appears in several of the plays of William Shakespeare. He is prominent in the two parts of King Henry the Fourth, where he is the jolly companion of Prince Hal, the future King Henry V. Falstaff is a lover of wine, women, and song; although a coward in practice, he loves to tell tales of his supposed bravery.

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Example Sentences

That dichotomy made Hill wonder how he could convince his boss, coach Jim Wagner, to motivate Falstaff to do more while rewarding Chinen with more playing time.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2025

Like Falstaff, he is convinced of his own importance.

From Salon • Oct. 2, 2024

The “Lord of the Rings” and “X-Men” actor fell after losing his footing during a battle scene between two other actors in “Player Kings,” in which he portrays John Falstaff, according to BBC News.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2024

He explained that he almost turned down the the opportunity again, but was "intrigued and eventually persuaded" by director Robert Icke who has "turned Falstaff into a believable character rather than an exaggeration".

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2024

Falstaff will never be decorous: and he is cast off.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith