Zanies

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Zany \Za"ny\, n.; pl. {Zanies}. [It. zanni a buffoon,
     merry-andrew, orig. same as Giovanni John, i. e., merry John,
     L. Ioannes, Gr. ?, Heb. Y[=o]kh[=a]n[=a]n, prop., the Lord
     graciously gave: cf. F. zani, fr. the Italian. Cf.
     {Jenneting}.]
     A merry-andrew; a buffoon.


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           Then write that I may follow, and so be
           Thy echo, thy debtor, thy foil, thy zany. --Donne.
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           Preacher at once, and zany of thy age.   --Pope.
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