Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
ZANY
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”
fathead, goof, goofball, bozo, jackass, goose, cuckoo, twat, zany
(noun) a man who is a stupid incompetent fool
zany
(noun) a buffoon in one of the old comedies; imitates others for ludicrous effect
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
zany (comparative zanier, superlative zaniest)
Unusual and awkward in a funny, comical manner; outlandish; clownish.
Ludicrously or incongruously comical.
Synonyms
• wacky
Noun
zany (plural zanies)
(obsolete) A fool or clown, especially one whose business on the stage is to imitate foolishly the actions of the principal clown.
Verb
zany (third-person singular simple present zanies, present participle zanying, simple past and past participle zanied)
(obsolete) To mimic foolishly.
Anagrams
• Zayn, zayn
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
Word of the Day
21 November 2024
DOUBLETREE
(noun) a crossbar on a wagon or carriage to which two whiffletrees are attached in order to harness two horses abreast
Coffee Trivia
