zany

Noun · Adjective
Synonyms: fatheadgoofgoofballbozojackassgoosecuckootwatcockamamiecockamamygoofysappy

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. a buffoon in one of the old comedies; imitates others for ludicrous effect
  2. a man who is a stupid incompetent foolSynonyms: fatheadgoofgoofballbozojackassgoosecuckootwat

Adjective (2)

  1. ludicrous, foolish“gave me a cockamamie reason for not going”“wore a goofy hat”“a silly idea”“some wacky plan for selling more books”Synonyms: cockamamiecockamamygoofysappysillywackywhacky
  2. like a clown“a buffoonish walk”“a clownish face”“a zany sense of humor”Synonyms: buffoonishclownishclownlike
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

zany \za"ny\ (z[=a]"n[-e]), adj. Comical in a clownish or buffoonish manner; whimsically comical. [PJC]
Zany \Za"ny\, n.; pl. Zanies. [It. zanni a buffoon, merry-andrew, orig. same as Giovanni John, i. e., merry John, L. Ioannes, Gr. ?, Heb. Y[=o]kh[=a]n[=a]n, prop., the Lord graciously gave: cf. F. zani, fr. the Italian. Cf. Jenneting.] A merry-andrew; a buffoon. [1913 Webster]

Then write that I may follow, and so be Thy echo, thy debtor, thy foil, thy zany. --Donne. [1913 Webster]

Preacher at once, and zany of thy age. --Pope. [1913 Webster] [1913 Webster]

Zany \Za"ny\, v. t. To mimic. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Your part is acted; give me leave at distance To zany it. --Massinger. [1913 Webster]

The Devil's Dictionary

ZANY, n. A popular character in old Italian plays, who imitated with ludicrous incompetence the _buffone_, or clown, and was therefore the ape of an ape; for the clown himself imitated the serious characters of the play. The zany was progenitor to the specialist in humor, as we to-day have the unhappiness to know him. In the zany we see an example of creation; in the humorist, of transmission. Another excellent specimen of the modern zany is the curate, who apes the rector, who apes the bishop, who apes the archbishop, who apes the devil.
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