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Punchinello

   Also found in: Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.10 sec.
Pun·chi·nel·lo  (pnch-nl)
n. pl. Pun·chi·nel·los or Pun·chi·nel·loes
1. The short fat buffoon or clown in an Italian puppet show.
2. One who resembles a short fat clown.
[Variant of Polichinello, from Italian dialectal Pollecinella, diminutive of pollecena, turkey pullet (from the resemblance between its beak and Punchinello's nose), ultimately from Latin pullus, young chicken; see pullet.]
Punchinello
Noun
pl -los or -loes a clown from Italian puppet shows, the origin of Punch [Italian Polecenella]


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Sophia was charmed with the contemplation of so heroic an action, and began to compliment herself with much premature flattery, when Cupid, who lay hid in her muff, suddenly crept out, and like Punchinello in a puppet-show, kicked all out before him.
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Fielding, Henry View in context
He is neither a gentleman in manner nor in feeling, but a sort of buffoon, a punchinello, a pantaloon.
Twenty Years After by Dumas, Alexandre View in context
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