clown

Meanings

Noun

• A slapstick performance artist often associated with a circus and usually characterized by bright, oversized clothing, a red nose, face paint, and a brightly colored wig.
• A person who acts in a silly fashion.
• A stupid person.
• A man of coarse nature and manners; an awkward fellow; an illbred person; a boor.
• One who works upon the soil; a rustic; a churl; a yokel.
• A clownfish

Verb

• To act in a silly or playful fashion.
• To ridicule.

Related

Similar words

• buffoon, fool

Origin

• From earlier clowne, cloyne, likely of North Germanic origin, akin to Icelandic klunni. Compare also North Frisian klönne, Dutch kluns. Unlikely from Latin colōnus ("colonist, farmer"), although learned awareness of this term may have influenced semantic development.