Pierrot

[pee-uh-roh, pye-roh]

noun

plural

Pierrots 

1. a male character in certain French pantomime, having a whitened face and wearing a loose, white, fancy costume.

2. (lowercase),  an actor, masquerader, or buffoon so made up.

Pierrot

/ pjɛro, ˈpɪərəʊ /

noun

1. a male character from French pantomime with a whitened face, white costume, and pointed hat

2. (usually not capital) a clown or masquerader so made up

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pierrot¹

1735–45; < French, diminutive of Pierre Peter

Example Sentences

Arnold Schoenberg’s sacrilegious “Pierrot Lunaire” foretold a distortion of reality that has never left us.

From Los Angeles Times

From ethereal white lace boho dresses to a stark black and white Pierrot bustier creation, each piece was a culmination of her vision of timeless femininity, echoing the radiant essence of nature in every stitch.

From Seattle Times

The code was harder to crack than Ms. Pierrot expected.

From NewsForKids.net

Pierrots, sailors, harlequins and peasants follow in the procession, small bells sewn to their costumes ringing as local brass bands play the streets.

From Reuters

Other characters — the Peasant, the Sailor, the Harlequin, the Pierrot or the Gille’s Wife — also play a role in the carnival.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• buffoon 
• comedian 
• comic 
• fool 
• jester 
• mime 
• prankster