fantoccini

plural noun

fan·​toc·​ci·​ni ˌfän-tə-ˈchē-nē 

ˌfan-

: a puppet show using puppets operated by strings or mechanical devices

also : such puppets

Word History

Etymology

Italian, plural of fantoccino, diminutive of fantoccio doll, augmentative of fante child, from Latin infant-, infans infant

First Known Use

1771, in the meaning defined above