The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.
buffoonish, clownish, clownlike, zany
(adjective) like a clown; “a buffoonish walk”; “a clownish face”; “a zany sense of humor”
goofy, silly, wacky, whacky, zany
(adjective) ludicrous, foolish; “wore a goofy hat”; “a silly idea”; “some wacky plan for selling more books”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
zaniest
superlative form of zany: most zany
• Zetinas, zeatins
Source: Wiktionary
Za"ny, n.; pl. Zanies. Etym: [It. zanni a buffoon, merry-andrew, orig. same as Giovanni John, i. e., merry John, L. Ioannes, Gr. Yokhanan, prop., the Lord graciously gave: cf. F. zani, fr. the Italian. Cf. Jenneting.]
Definition: A merry-andrew; a buffoon. Then write that I may follow, and so be Thy echo, thy debtor, thy foil, thy zany. Donne. Preacher at once, and zany of thy age. Pope.
Za"ny, v. t.
Definition: To mimic. [Obs.] Your part is acted; give me leave at distance To zany it. Massinger.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
24 January 2025
(noun) a state of agitation or turbulent change or development; “the political ferment produced new leadership”; “social unrest”
The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.