buffoon

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   One who performs in a silly or ridiculous fashion; a clown or fool.

   To divert the audience with buffoon postures and antic dances.

2. 2
   verb

   To behave like a buffoon

   His mimicry of gay speech and facial expressions is analogous to an Amos 'n' Andy routine, in which white men buffooned their way through incredibly demeaning impersonations of black men.

3. 3
   noun

   a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior

4. 4
   noun

   a rude or vulgar fool

5. 5
   noun

   An unintentionally ridiculous person.

Etymology

From Middle French bouffon, from Italian buffone (“jester”), from buffare (“to puff out the cheeks”), of onomatopoeic origin. Compare Middle High German buffen ("to puff"; > German büffen), Old English pyffan (“to breathe out, blow with the mouth”). More at English puff.