Punchinello

[ puhn-chuh-nel-oh ]

noun

, plural Pun·chi·nel·los, Pun·chi·nel·loes.

1. a grotesque or absurd chief character in a puppet show of Italian origin: the prototype of Punch.
2. any similarly grotesque or absurd person or thing.

Punchinello

/ ˌpʌntʃɪˈnɛləʊ /

noun

1. a type of clown from Italian burlesque or puppet shows, the prototype of Punch
2. sometimes not capital any grotesque or absurd character

Word History and Origins

Origin of Punchinello¹

1660–70; < Italian (Naples dial.) polecenella character in the puppet show, diminutive of polecana turkey-cock chick < Late Latin pullicēnus, derivative of Latin pullus pullet

Word History and Origins

Origin of Punchinello¹

C17: from earlier Polichinello, from Italian (Neapolitan dialect) Polecenella, from Italian pulcino chicken, ultimately from Latin pullus young animal

Example Sentences

Punch and Punchinello, or Pierre and Pierrot are the father and the son of the ancient holy-days or holidays.

From Project Gutenberg

Here and there a small group gazed at the performances of Punchinello; a few equipages drove along its centre way.

From Project Gutenberg

It was as though a parrot or a punchinello spoke, and sentences which were unexpected could not be understood.

From Project Gutenberg

But any though he is, he is as capable of devotion to his Columbine as Punchinello, and remains faithfully mated year after year.

From Project Gutenberg

She had been angry with Glyde, but now could think of him as "poor Struan," Punchinello in a rustic comedy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• buffoon
• comedian
• comic
• fool
• jester
• mime
• prankster