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buffoon

noun

  1. exaggerated actor
L317478 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /bəˈfuːn/

noun

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.

  1. One who performs in a silly or ridiculous fashion; a clown or fool.

    To divert the audience with buffoon postures and antic dances.

  2. An unintentionally ridiculous person.

verb

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.

  1. To behave like a buffoon

    His mimicry of gay speech and facial expressions is analogous to an Amos 'n' Andy routine, in which white men buffooned their way through incredibly demeaning impersonations of black men.