zany
adjective

- strange, surprising or uncontrolled in an amusing way

(Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)

noun
- a comical person given to extravagant or outlandish behavior

(The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

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WORD ORIGIN

Zany (circa 1588) was borrowed from the Middle French zani, which developed from the dialectal Italian (Venetian) zanni, a common variant of Giovanni (John), the name of servants who act as clowns in the Italian farce comedy "commedia dell'arte". The noun was later adopted as a verb to mean ridiculous.

Commedia dell'arte was a popular form of improvisational theatre that began in Italy in the 15th century and reached the peak of its popularity by the 18th century (although it is still performed today). The performances were conducted outside with few stage settings and no script. The shows were free to watch. The ensemble consisted of 10 performers: seven men and three women. Outside Italy, it was also known as Italian Comedy.

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SYNONYMS

(adjective)

campy, clownish, comical, dumb, eccentric, fool, foolish, for grins, funny, gagged up, goofy, hare-brained, humorous, joshing, kooky, loony, madcap, nutty, sappy, wacky, witty

(noun)

buffoon, clown, comedian, comic, cutup, funnyman, gagman, gagster, harlequin, humorist, jester, joker, jokesmith, jokester, madcap, merry-andrew, nut, practical joker, prankster, screwball, trickster, wag, wisecracker


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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation:

"British humour started to become very ZANY especially after Monty Python's Flying Circus."