## Meanings
1. A performer with funny clothes, face paint, and a red nose who entertains people, often at a circus.
2. A person who behaves in a silly way to make others laugh.
3. To behave in a silly or playful way.

## Examples
- The children laughed at the clown's silly tricks.
- He was the clown of the class, always making jokes.
- Stop clowning around and finish your homework.

## Synonyms
- jester

## Derived Forms
- assclown
- beclown
- clownage
- clowncel
- clowncore
- clowndom
- clownery
- clowness
- clownette
- clownfish
- clownhood
- clowniness

## Related Forms
- coulrophobia
- jackpudding
- jester

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: klunz
- Root: *gel-

## Etymology
From earlier clowne, cloyne (“man of rustic or coarse manners, boor, peasant”); likely of North Germanic origin, akin to Icelandic klunni (“clumsy fellow, klutz”), Swedish kluns (“clumsy fellow”), all from Middle Low German klunz, from klunt (“pile, lump, something thick”); according to Pokorny, this could be related to a group of Germanic derivatives of Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to ball up; amass”), such as Proto-West Germanic *klott (“lump”), Proto-Germanic *klūtaz (“clod, lump”), *kultaz (“lump, bundle”), etc. Alternatively, directly from Low German (compare North Frisian klönne (“clumsy…

## AI Etymology
clown is a verb and noun. It is from earlier clowne, cloyne (“man of rustic or coarse manners, boor, peasant”); likely of North Germanic origin, akin to Icelandic klunni (“clumsy fellow, klutz”), Swedish kluns (“clumsy fellow”), all from Middle Low German klunz, from klunt (“pile, lump, something thick”); according to Pokorny, this could be related to a group of Germanic derivatives of Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to ball up; amass”), such as Proto-West Germanic *klott (“lump”), Proto-Germanic *klūtaz (“clod, lump”), *kultaz (“lump, bundle”), etc. Historical forms in the chain include klunz (gml) and *gel- (Proto-Indo-European). Current senses include a performer with funny clothes, face paint, and a red nose who entertains people, often at a circus, a person who behaves in a silly way to make others laugh, and to behave in a silly or playful way. Derived forms include assclown, beclown, clownage, clowncel, and clowncore. Related words include coulrophobia, jackpudding, and jester.

## Topics
- People & Society
- Clothing & Appearance

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