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

But I speak no Italian; only a few broken scraps, which I picked from Scaramouch and Harlequin at Paris.

From The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 06 by Scott, Walter, Sir

In course of time it was "made into a farce, with the Humors of Harlequin and Scaramouch," and represented through the whole kingdom, like similar compositions, with immense applause.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 02, No. 12, October, 1858 by Various

Hurtling Trivellino fine, On a trill intent, Scaramouch to Columbine Gives the fan she lent.

From Enamels and Cameos and other Poems by Lee, Agnes

Mr. Davidson is still a young man; but the first of these plays, An Unhistorical Pastoral, was first printed so long ago as 1877; and the last, Scaramouch in Naxos; a Pantomime, in 1888.

From Adventures in Criticism by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir

A gaudy Harlequin and his brother Scaramouch invite the attention of the passers-by.

From A History of the Four Georges, Volume I by McCarthy, Justin