The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Marionette \Mar`i*o*nette"\, n. [F. marionette, prop. a dim. of
   Marie Mary.]
   1. A puppet moved by strings, as in a puppet show.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Zool.) The buffel duck.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

marionette
    n 1: a small figure of a person operated from above with strings
         by a puppeteer [syn: puppet, marionette]