clown
- a comic performer, as in a circus, theatrical production, or the like, who wears an outlandish costume and makeup and entertains by pantomiming common situations or actions in exaggerated or ridiculous fashion, by juggling or tumbling, etc.
- a person who acts like a clown; comedian; joker; buffoon; jester.
- a prankster; a practical joker.
- Slang. a coarse, ill-bred person; a boor.
- a peasant; rustic.
- to act like a clown.
Origin of clown
Synonyms
Related Words
fool, jester, mime, buffoon, comedian, comic, prankster, lout, cut-up, madcap, harlequin, wag, ribald, jokester, punch, joker, mountebank, wit, zany, anticExamples from the Web for clowning
Contemporary Examples
Between all the clowning, the show cycled through dozens and dozens of singers.
He told Mohammed that he was just there clowning and that Mo had a real shot and could have his spot.
Historical Examples
Do you think we will let you ruin everything by your clowning?
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
"All for your good," said Torpenhow, not in the least with reference to past clowning.
The Works of Rudyard Kipling: One Volume EditionRudyard Kipling
Like everything else in this busy world, clowning must be timely.
The Autobiography of a ClownIsaac Frederick Marcosson
At every piece of clowning there was the same responsive gurgle of delight.
Plays, Acting and MusicArthur Symons
And his clowning and mugging made it impossible to play a legitimate scene with him, with any shadow of professional self-respect.
The Real AdventureHenry Kitchell Webster
clown
- a comic entertainer, usually grotesquely costumed and made up, appearing in the circus
- any performer who elicits an amused response
- someone who plays jokes or tricks
- a person who acts in a comic or buffoon-like manner
- a coarse clumsy rude person; boor
- archaic a countryman or rustic
- to perform as a clown
- to play jokes or tricks
- to act foolishly
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for clowning
n.
1861, verbal noun from clown (v.).
clown
n.
1560s, clowne, also cloyne, "rustic, boor, peasant," origin uncertain. Perhaps from Scandinavian dialect (cf. Icelandic klunni "clumsy, boorish fellow;" Swedish kluns "a hard knob; a clumsy fellow," Danish klunt "log, block"), or akin to North Frisian klönne "clumsy person." Or, less likely, from Latin colonus "colonist, farmer," though awareness of this word might have influenced the sense development in English.
Meaning "professional fool, professional or habitual jester" is c.1600. "The pantomime clown represents a blend of the Shakes[pearean] rustic with one of the stock types of the It. comedy" [Weekley]. Meaning "contemptible person" is from 1920s. Fem. form clowness attested from 1801.
clown
v.
c.1600, "to play the clown onstage," from clown (n.); colloquial sense of "to behave inappropriately" (e.g. clown around, 1932) attested by 1928, perhaps from theatrical slang sense of "play a (non-comical) part farcically or comically" (1891). Related: Clowned; clowning.