punchinello

noun

pun·​chi·​nel·​lo ˌpən-chə-ˈne-(ˌ)lō 

1

capitalized : a fat short humpbacked clown or buffoon in Italian puppet shows

2

plural punchinellos : a squat grotesque person

Illustration of punchinello

• Punchinello

Word History

Etymology

modification of Italian dialect polecenella

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1