scaramouch

noun

scar·a·mouch ˈsker-ə-ˌmüsh

ˈska-rə-,

-ˌmüch,

-ˌmau̇ch

variants or scaramouche

Synonyms of scaramouch next

capitalized : a stock character in the Italian commedia dell'arte that burlesques the Spanish don and is characterized by boastfulness and cowardliness

: a cowardly buffoon

: rascal, scamp

Did you know?

In the commedia dell'arte, Scaramouch was a stock character who was constantly being cudgeled by Harlequin, which may explain why his name is based on an Italian word meaning "skirmish," or "a minor fight." The character was made popular in England during the late 1600s by the clever acting of Tiberio Fiurelli. During that time, the name Scaramouch also gained notoriety as a derogatory word for a cowardly buffoon or rascal. Today not many people use the word (which can also be spelled scaramouche), but you will encounter it while listening to Queen's much-beloved rock song "Bohemian Rhapsody," in the lyric "I see a little silhouetto of a man / Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the fandango?"

Examples of scaramouch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Much like his namesake, the scaramouch, the Mooch masquerades as a useful idiot and a sly schemer, performing both roles while never forgetting to enthrall the audience and, most important, the boss. —

Tiana Lowe, National Review, 28 July 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scaramouch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.