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

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 Summers, Montague

The great foreign chemist, Professor Scaramouch, has the credit of the discovery.

From Loss and Gain The Story of a Convert by Newman, John Henry

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

Various gay masqueraders, interrupted by return of the Doctor, are carried by Scaramouch behind the curtain.

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

Scaramouch a Philosopher, Harlequin a schoolboy, Bravo Merchant and Magician; a Comedy, after the Italian manner, acted at the theatre-royal 1677.

From The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume III by Cibber, Theophilus