pantaloon

[ pan-tl-oon ]

noun

1. pantaloons, a man's close-fitting garment for the hips and legs, worn especially in the 19th century, but varying in form from period to period; trousers.
2. (usually initial capital letter) Also Pan·ta·lo·ne [] (in commedia dell'arte) a foolish old Venetian merchant, usually the head of a household, generally lascivious and frequently deceived in the course of lovers' intrigues.
3. (in the modern pantomime) a foolish, vicious old man, the butt and accomplice of the clown.

pantaloon

/ ˌpæntəˈluːn /

noun

1. (in pantomime) an absurd old man, the butt of the clown's tricks
2. usually capital (in commedia dell'arte) a lecherous old merchant dressed in pantaloons

Word History and Origins

Origin of pantaloon¹

1580–90; < Middle French Pantalon < Upper Italian ( Venetian ) Pantalone nickname for a Venetian, variant of Pantaleone, name of a 4th-century saint once a favorite of the Venetians

Word History and Origins

Origin of pantaloon¹

C16: from French Pantalon, from Italian Pantalone, local nickname for a Venetian, probably from San Pantaleone, a fourth-century Venetian saint

Example Sentences

I was born a young man; I have continued so; and before I end, a pantaloon, a driveller—enough again.

From Project Gutenberg

It was only what he might have expected, for had not the clown served the pantaloon exactly the same the night before?

From Project Gutenberg

The tight pantaloon is at once simple, useful, and beautiful.

From Project Gutenberg

At last he becomes the shuffling slippered Pantaloon of our Christmas pantomimes.

From Project Gutenberg

"Also with oils and varnishes," answered the pantaloon, his voice breaking in the desperate effort he made to be audible.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clown
• jokester