Scaramouch

or Scar·a·mouche

[ skar-uh-mouch, -moosh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a stock character in commedia dell'arte and farce who is a cowardly braggart, easily beaten and frightened.
(lowercase) a rascal or scamp.

Scaramouch

/ -ˌmuːtʃ; ˈskærəˌmaʊtʃ /

noun

a stock character who appears as a boastful coward in commedia dell'arte and farce

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Scaramouch¹

First recorded in 1662; from French Scaramouche, from Italian Scaramuccia, proper noun use of scaramuccia “skirmish” (applied in jest); skirmish ( def )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Scaramouch¹

C17: via French from Italian Scaramuccia, from scaramuccia a skirmish

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Example Sentences

He played Acres and Scaramouch to full houses, the receipts on the first night being 84l., and on the second 87l.

From Project Gutenberg

Scaramouch, skar′a-mowch, n. a buffoon: a bragging, cowardly fellow.

From Project Gutenberg

There was also a very good harlequin, and as good a scaramouch.

From Project Gutenberg

The third artist that I looked over was Fantasque, dressed like a Venetian scaramouch.

From Project Gutenberg

The great foreign chemist, Professor Scaramouch, has the credit of the discovery.

From Project Gutenberg

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