scaramouch

noun

scar·​a·​mouch ˈsker-ə-ˌmüsh 

ˈska-rə-,

-ˌmüch,

-ˌmau̇ch

variants or scaramouche

1

capitalized : a stock character in the Italian commedia dell'arte that burlesques the Spanish don and is characterized by boastfulness and cowardliness

2

a

: a cowardly buffoon

b

: rascal, scamp

Did you know?

In the commedia dell'arte, Scaramouch was a stock character who was constantly being cudgeled by Harlequin, which may explain why his name is based on an Italian word meaning "skirmish," or "a minor fight." The character was made popular in England during the late 1600s by the clever acting of Tiberio Fiurelli. During that time, the name Scaramouch also gained notoriety as a derogatory word for a cowardly buffoon or rascal. Today not many people use the word (which can also be spelled scaramouche), but you will encounter it while listening to Queen's much-beloved rock song "Bohemian Rhapsody," in the lyric "I see a little silhouetto of a man / Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the fandango?"

Examples of scaramouch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Much like his namesake, the scaramouch, the Mooch masquerades as a useful idiot and a sly schemer, performing both roles while never forgetting to enthrall the audience and, most important, the boss. —Tiana Lowe, National Review, 28 July 2017

Word History

Etymology

French Scaramouche, from Italian Scaramuccia, from scaramuccia skirmish

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!