buffoon
[ buh-foon ]
/ bəˈfun /
noun
a person who amuses others by tricks, jokes, odd gestures and postures, etc.
a person given to coarse or undignified joking.
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Nearby words
buffeting, buffett, bufflehead, buffo, buffon, buffoon, buffs, buffy, buffy coat, bufotalin, bufotenine
Origin of buffoon
1540–50; earlier buffon < French < Italian buffone, equivalent to buff- (expressive base; compare buffa puff of breath, buffare to puff, puff up one's checks) + -one agent suffix ≪ Latin -ō, accusative -ōnem
Related forms
buf·foon·er·y [buh-foo-nuh-ree] /bəˈfu nə ri/, nounbuf·foon·ish, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for buffoon
British Dictionary definitions for buffoon
buffoon
/ (bəˈfuːn) /
noun
a person who amuses others by ridiculous or odd behaviour, jokes, etc
a foolish person
Derived Forms
buffoonery, nounWord Origin for buffoon
C16: from French bouffon, from Italian buffone, from Medieval Latin būfō, from Latin: toad
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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