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buffoon

Pronunciation: /bəˈfuːn/

The English word “buffoon” has 3 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. One who performs in a silly or ridiculous fashion; a clown or fool.
  2. An unintentionally ridiculous person.

verb

  1. To behave like a buffoon

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.

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