English Explanatory Dictionary

buffoon

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. One who performs in a silly or ridiculous fashion; a clown or fool.
  2. An unintentionally ridiculous person.
verb
  1. To behave like a buffoon

Pronunciation

/bəˈfuːn/ en-us-buffoon.ogg

Word forms

buffoon buffoons buffooning buffooned

Etymology

From Middle French bouffon, from Italian buffone (“jester”), from buffare (“to puff out the cheeks”), of onomatopoeic origin. Compare Middle High German buffen ("to puff"; > German büffen), Old English pyffan (“to breathe out, blow with the mouth”). More at English puff.

Derived words

buffonize buffoonery buffoonesque buffoonic buffoonish buffoonism buffoonlike buffoonly buffoonry
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