Scaramouch

American  

[skar-uh-mouch, -moosh] / ˈskær əˌmaʊtʃ, -ˌmuʃ /

Or Scaramouche

noun

1. a stock character in commedia dell'arte and farce who is a cowardly braggart, easily beaten and frightened.

2. (lowercase) a rascal or scamp.

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Scaramouch British  

/ -ˌmuːtʃ, ˈskærəˌmaʊtʃ /

noun

1. a stock character who appears as a boastful coward in commedia dell'arte and farce

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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

See Examples For:

Scaramouch

Scaramouch professes that the noise was made by putting up this piece of Tapestry, 'the best in Italy for the Rareness of the Figures, sir.'

From The Spectator, Volume 1 Eighteenth-Century Periodical Essays by Joseph Addison

His dress was something between that of Harlequin and Scaramouch.

From The Infernal Marriage by Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield

To Marlowe's "Faustus," Mountfort added comic scenes to the tragedy, introducing Harlequin and Scaramouch.

From A History of Pantomime by R. J. Broadbent

Amongst the more notable performances of The Emperor of the Moon were two at Dorset Garden on the 16 and 21 November, 1706, when Estcourt acted Scaramouch, and Pinkethman, Harlequin.

From The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume III by Montague Summers

In a farce of the audacious Mrs. Aphra Behn's, produced twenty years afterwards, Harlequin and Scaramouch were two of the characters.

From A History of Pantomime by R. J. Broadbent