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); skirmish ( def. )

Example Sentences

Ere long little plays called drolls were exhibited; puppet shows such as "Pickle Herring," or the "Taylor ryding to Brentford," or "Harlequinn and Scaramouch."

From Customs and Fashions in Old New England by Earle, Alice Morse

Pasquariel comes gently behind him, and taps time on his shoulders—this throws Scaramouch into a panic.

From Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 2 by Disraeli, Isaac

Gherardi, in his treatise, "The�tre Italien," speaks of a Scaramouch, who, waiting for his master, Harlequin, seats and plays on the guitar.

From A History of Pantomime by Broadbent, R. J.

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 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