Scaramouch

American  

[skar-uh-mouch, -moosh] / ˈskær əˌmaʊtʃ, -ˌmuʃ /

Or Scaramouche

noun

1. a stock character in commedia dell'arte and farce who is a cowardly braggart, easily beaten and frightened.

2. (lowercase)  a rascal or scamp.

---

Scaramouch British  

/ -ˌmuːtʃ, ˈskærəˌmaʊtʃ /

noun

1. a stock character who appears as a boastful coward in commedia dell'arte and farce

---

Etymology

Origin of Scaramouch

First recorded in 1662; from French Scaramouche, from Italian Scaramuccia, proper noun use of scaramuccia “skirmish” (applied in jest); skirmish ( def. )

Example Sentences

“O these Scaramouches,” interrupts Eubulus, “how they know how to wheedle the poor people!”

From Project Gutenberg

Our Scaramouch is one of the numerous forms of the Captain, which obtained great popularity at Paris.

From Project Gutenberg

This by some has been considered as a dawning of the drama, since the characters probably bore a resemblance to the Arlequin and Scaramouch of the Italian farces.

From Project Gutenberg

Hurtling Trivellino fine, On a trill intent, Scaramouch to Columbine Gives the fan she lent.

From Project Gutenberg

Besides these, there was also a comic drama, in which some personages not unlike punch and his wife, Bandemeer and Scaramouch performed capital parts.

From Project Gutenberg