Scaramouch

American  

[skar-uh-mauch, -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  

/ ˈskærəˌmaʊtʃ, -ˌmuːtʃ /

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. )

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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 Montague Summers

Scaramouch is the necromancer's man, and the comic scenes, although the stage tricks are old, prove very good pantomime.

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

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

From A History of Pantomime by R. J. Broadbent

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

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

This does not divert me; Nor nothing will, till Scaramouch return, And bring me News of Cinthio.

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

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