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

Like Falstaff, he is convinced of his own importance.

From Salon • Oct. 2, 2024

McKellen portrayed John Falstaff in the stage adaptation of “Player Kings,” which merges Shakespeare’s “Henry IV” Parts 1 and 2.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2024

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

From BBC • Jun. 20, 2024

We’re told that the ample Falstaff hasn’t seen his own knees in years, and when he sits, it looks as if he may never stand up.

From New York Times • Apr. 12, 2024

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

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith