Scaramouch
or Scar·a·mouche
[skar-uh-mouch, -moosh]
- a stock character in commedia dell'arte and farce who is a cowardly braggart, easily beaten and frightened.
- (lowercase) a rascal or scamp.
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Origin of Scaramouch
1655–65; < French Scaramouche < Italian Scaramuccia, proper use of scaramuccia skirmish (applied in jest); of Germanic orig.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for scaramouche
Historical Examples
Scaramouche turned to her, smiling, and handed her the candle.
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
In fact I have no name, unless it be Scaramouche, to which I have earned a title.
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
Scaramouche was clearly a great gentleman, an eccentric if you please, but a man born.
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
And a success it proved that more than justified all the heralding of which Scaramouche had been guilty.
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
Even M. Binet appeared to be waiting for a cue from Scaramouche.
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
Scaramouch
Scaramouche
- a stock character who appears as a boastful coward in commedia dell'arte and farce
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Word Origin
C17: via French from Italian Scaramuccia, from scaramuccia a skirmish
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for scaramouche
n.
1660s, name of a cowardly braggart (supposed by some to represent a Spanish don) in traditional Italian comedy, from Italian Scaramuccia, literally "skirmish," from schermire "to fence," from a Germanic source (cf. Old High German skirmen "defend"); see skirmish (n.). According to OED, a vogue word in late 17c. London due to the popularity of Italian actor Tiberio Fiurelli (1608-1694) in the part.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper