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

His dress was something between that of Harlequin and Scaramouch.

From The Infernal Marriage by Disraeli, Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield

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 Summers, Montague

"Scaramouch," the "Sganarelle" of Molière's Festin de Pierre, was a favourite character of Joseph Grimaldi.

From The Works of Lord Byron. Vol. 6 by Coleridge, Ernest Hartley

The girls are, however, secretly assisted in their amours by Scaramouch, the doctor's man, who is himself a rival of Harlequin, Cinthio's valet, for the hand of Mopsophil, duenna to the young ladies.

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

This by some has been considered as a dawning of the drama, since the characters probably bore a resemblance to the Arlequin and Scaramouch of the Italian farces.

From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume I by Dunlop, John