Scaramouch

or Scar·a·mouche

[ skar-uh-mouch, -moosh ]

noun
  1. a stock character in commedia dell'arte and farce who is a cowardly braggart, easily beaten and frightened.

  2. (lowercase) a rascal or scamp.

Origin of Scaramouch

1
First recorded in 1662; from French Scaramouche, from Italian Scaramuccia, proper noun use of scaramuccia “skirmish” (applied in jest); see origin at skirmish

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How to use Scaramouch in a sentence

  • Harlequin and Scaramouche start back, fall over their Chairs, and get up.

  • The others made chorus, whilst Scaramouche smiled at him, and patted his shoulder.

    Scaramouche | Rafael Sabatini
  • Scaramouche's success in the first act was more than confirmed as the performance proceeded.

    Scaramouche | Rafael Sabatini
  • As Climene now rose to withdraw for the night, Scaramouche rose with her to light her candle.

    Scaramouche | Rafael Sabatini
  • As for the rest of the company, they were disposed to be very kindly towards Scaramouche.

    Scaramouche | Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for Scaramouch

Scaramouch

Scaramouche

/ (ˈskærəˌmaʊtʃ, -ˌmuːtʃ) /


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

Origin of Scaramouch

1
C17: via French from Italian Scaramuccia, from scaramuccia a skirmish

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012