clown
Noun · VerbWordNet 3.0
Noun (2)
- a rude or vulgar foolSynonyms: buffoon
- a person who amuses others by ridiculous behaviorSynonyms: buffoongoofgoofballmerry andrew
Verb (1)
- act as or like a clownSynonyms: clown aroundantic
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Clown (kloun), noun
Origin: Cf. Icel. klunni a clumsy, boorish fellow, North Fries. klönne clown, dial. Sw. klunn log, Dan. klunt log, block, and E. clump, n.
1. A man of coarse nature and manners; an awkward fellow; an ill-bred person; a boor. Sir Philip Sidney
2. One who works upon the soil; a rustic; a churl.
The clown, the child of nature, without guile.— William Cowper
3. The fool or buffoon in a play, circus, etc.
The clown shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickle o'the sere.— William Shakespeare
Clown intransitive verb
To act as a clown; — with it. obsolete
Beshrew me, he clowns it properly indeed.— Ben Jonson
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54