Scaramouch
or Scar·a·mouche
- a stock character in commedia dell'arte and farce who is a cowardly braggart, easily beaten and frightened.
- (lowercase) a rascal or scamp.
Origin of Scaramouch
Examples from the Web for scaramouche
Historical Examples of scaramouche
Scaramouche turned to her, smiling, and handed her the candle.
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
And a success it proved that more than justified all the heralding of which Scaramouche had been guilty.
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
For Scaramouche himself this success was not confined to the public.
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
Scaramouche was clearly a great gentleman, an eccentric if you please, but a man born.
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
In fact I have no name, unless it be Scaramouche, to which I have earned a title.
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
Scaramouch
Scaramouche
- a stock character who appears as a boastful coward in commedia dell'arte and farce
Word Origin for Scaramouch
Word Origin and History for scaramouche
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.