Zany

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈzeɪni/
• Rhymes: -eɪni

Origin

From Italian zanni (a kind of masked clown character), itself (when capitalized) a dialectal form of Giovanni.

Full definition of zany

Adjective

1. unusual and bizarre in a funny, comical way; outlandish; clownish
2. ludicrously or incongruously comical

Synonyms

• wacky

Derived terms

• zaniness

Noun

1. (obsolete) A fool or clown. Especially one whose business on the stage was to imitate foolishly the actions of the principal clown
• John DonneThen write that I may follow, and so be
  Thy echo, thy debtor, thy foil, thy zany.
• Alexander PopePreacher at once, and zany of thy age.
• 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet Chapter 4So there he caught me lying like a zany on the ground. You may guess I stood at attention soon enough, but told him I was looking at the founds to see if they wanted underpinning from the floods.