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