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