Punchinello

See also: punchinello

English

Etymology

From Italian Pulcinella or Neapolitan Pulecenella, of uncertain origin (see the Italian entry).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌpʌnt͡ʃɪˈnɛləʊ/
• Rhymes: -ɛləʊ

Proper noun

Punchinello (plural Punchinellos or Punchinelloes)

1. A traditional Italian puppet, in the form of a short fat clown.
   • 1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 37:

     The children of George III played with an eight-inch-long rattle made of gold and coral and decorated with gold bells. The little King of Rome, Napoleon's son, had one with the face formed as a punchinello with an ivory handle and eight bells, in fact, a poupard. This punchinello had Napoleon's face, made expressly in order for his son.

2. (by extension) Somebody who resembles this character; a grotesque buffoon.

Derived terms

• Punch
• punchinello

Further reading

• Pulcinella on Wikipedia.Wikipedia