Scaramouch
Americannoun
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a stock character in commedia dell'arte and farce who is a cowardly braggart, easily beaten and frightened.
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(lowercase) a rascal or scamp.
noun
Etymology
Origin of Scaramouch
First recorded in 1662; from French Scaramouche, from Italian Scaramuccia, proper noun use of scaramuccia “skirmish” (applied in jest); see origin at skirmish ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A celebrated Scaramouch, without uttering a syllable, kept the audience for a considerable time in a state of suspense by a scene of successive terrors; and exhibited a living picture of a panic-stricken man.
From Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 2 by Disraeli, Isaac
Ere long little plays called drolls were exhibited; puppet shows such as "Pickle Herring," or the "Taylor ryding to Brentford," or "Harlequinn and Scaramouch."
From Customs and Fashions in Old New England by Earle, Alice Morse
On his return to the metropolis the old humour broke out at the representation of the inimitable Scaramouch of the Italian theatre.
From Literary Character of Men of Genius Drawn from Their Own Feelings and Confessions by Disraeli, Isaac
Scaramouch a Philosopher, Harlequin a schoolboy, Bravo Merchant and Magician; a Comedy, after the Italian manner, acted at the theatre-royal 1677.
From The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume III by Cibber, Theophilus
This does not divert me; Nor nothing will, till Scaramouch return, And bring me News of Cinthio.
From The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume III by Summers, Montague
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
