Definition of zany

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< Zanuck, Darryl Francis

Zanzibar >

za·ny    (zn) KEY  

NOUN:
pl. za·nies

1. A ludicrous, buffoonish character in old comedies who attempts feebly to mimic the tricks of the clown.
2. A comical person given to extravagant or outlandish behavior.

ADJECTIVE:
za·ni·er , za·ni·est

1. Ludicrously comical; clownish.
2. Comical because of incongruity or strangeness; bizarre.

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ETYMOLOGY:
French zani, from Italian dialectal zanni, from Zanni, variant of Italian Gianni, nickname for Giovanni, John, the name of servants who act as clowns in commedia dell'arte

OTHER FORMS:
zani·ly (Adverb), zani·ness (Noun)

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