Word of the Week (WOW) is a weekly challenge created by Heena Rathore P. It’s a fun way to improve vocabulary by learning new words every week.
To participate, simply do a post with your word and leave the link as a comment on Heena’s WOW post for this week (above link).
I’ve now been through the alphabet once, so I’ve started again, and am now looking at the letter B.
So, here is my WOW for this week:
Word:
Buffoon
Meaning
- A person who does silly things, usually to make other people laugh:
2. A person given to coarse or undignified joking (a boor).
Pronunciation:
buf·foon [buh–foon]
Audio: buffoon. (No discernible difference between UK and US pronunciations for this one.)
Part of Speech:
Noun
Related Forms:
Noun: buffoonery
Adjective: buffoonish
Word Origin:
Mid 16th century: from French bouffon, from Italian buffone, from medieval Latin buffo, meaning ‘clown’. Originally recorded as a rare Scottish word for a kind of pantomime dance, the term later (late 16th century) denoted a professional jester.
Synonyms:
jester, clown, fool, boor, comic, comedian, wag, joker, dag (New Zealand, informal) harlequin, droll, silly-billy (informal), joculator or (fem) joculatrix, merry-andrew, zany, prankster.
Antonyms:
None
Use in a Sentence:
1. Once she got behind her desk, the generally quiet Teresa seemed to transform into a buffoon, hurling coarse and insulting remarks at her colleagues:
2. I hoped my husband would stop acting like a buffoon before our friends deserted us at the party:
3. In most of their films, Bob Hope played the buffoon of the comedy duo, whilst Bing Crosby was the straight man.
4. (Use of related noun) On his first visit to the circus, Jonathan was not impressed by the clown’s constant buffoonery:
If you’d like to view more interesting words, visit Heena’s
Millie Thom 
I like this one 😀
Actually, do you use it or is kind of old-fashioned?
Hi Rockhopper. Thank you for commenting. 🙂 This word is still used nowadays. I’ve seen it used to describe certain politicians when they’ve been trying to sound funny, but succeeded in making fools of themselves. It can also sound very old fashioned if a writer uses it in an historical setting (describing a court jester, for example). 😀
Thank you!
Yeah, it often fits to politicians 😀
Very true! Thanks, Rockhopper. 🙂
Bob Hope could always make me laugh as he played the buffoon to straight man Bing Crosby in their numerous “Road” movies vying for the attention of beautiful Dorothy Lamour.
Totally agree! Their films might be dated now, but they still have me in stitches. 🙂
Benny was a buffoon before he became a bloody butcher. (From ‘Autobiography of a Timid Meat Eater’)
Oddly enough, Prospero, I haven’t read that book either. Perhaps you could write it, and let me know? 🙂 Oddly enough again… my eldest son is a ‘bloody butcher’ – has his own butcher’s shop. But I have to say, he’s never been the timid type, or a buffooon (unless we count the times when he has a little too much to drink).Heehee. 🙂 Thank you for the excellent, alliterative sentence, Prospero.
Yes, it seems that a timid butcher is an oxymoron of sorts, and thus the perfect subject for an existentialist novel, one in which the unreliable narrator might be deemed serious and sincere by the reader–only to be later reassessed as a babbling buffoon.
Yes, a timid butcher is, indeed, an oxymoron – and thus a wonderful
subject for an existentialist novel. Perhaps…probably… maybe…maybe not…
I’ll let you try writing it, and I’ll just commiserate when you’re ‘reassessed as a babbling buffoon’. 🙂
Leave it to me. It will be a sanguineous best-seller by Christmas.
Oh goody. I love a nice bit of ‘sanguineousness’. I’ll buy it as soon as it’s published!
Now this is a word I don’t like. Noty sure I can put my finger on why though 😦
I can’t say I hate the word, but it’s not one I’d think to use in my writing. I was in a bit of a rush yesterday, and I knew I’d find illustrations easily for this one. Perhaps it sounds a bit too ‘stuffy’. I don’t think it would fit the feel of my 9th century marauders, either. Thank you, Bekki. 🙂
A good word for Black Adder though – I’m sure I’ve heard him put it to good use.
I hadn’t thought of Black Adder. You’re right – it’s definitely the kind of word he would use (and did do!). Although the word is still used today,it does sound very dated – probably why I wouldn’t think touse it. And it really doesn’t fit with 9th century goings on. 🙂
I feel like a buffoon for not visiting here more often, Millie. Great post!
Good post. I loved Jerry Lewis as the buffoon to Dean Martin in their movies and skits. 🙂
Jerry Lewis was always a favourite in our house when I was little. My mum loved him. Whenever I hear his name now, I remember a scene in one film in particular. The pair of them were in a restaurant and had ordered a meal. Jerry Lewis’s arrived as a single pea in the middle of the plate. The way he drowned it in ketchup and proceeded to cut it up was hilarious. Thanks for reminding me of that great comedian, Susan. 🙂
The word for some reason reminds me of buffalo, won’t want to be either.
The word starts like buffalo, so I can see why you think that. I suppose we could easily call a buffoon ‘a great hairy buffalo’! But that could be an insult to the buffalo. Thanks for that, Chioma. The idea cheered me up today. 🙂
LOL. ‘A great hairy buffalo’ 😉
This is really really interesting! When I pronounce buffoon, I somehow think “balloon”. Do I sound like a buffoon pronouncing “buffoon” as “balloon”? lol 😀 Thanks dear for choosing a wonderful word! 🙂
your posts make all of these words pretty funny and interesting! love it
Thank you!
I’ve always loved using this word… the pronunciation is so cute… 🙂
Love your sentences… especially the second one 😉
Thanks for this week’s post!
I’ll start linking them to yours as soon as you’re back on your blog, Heena. I don’t want to pressure you into having to read them when you’re so busy. Thank you for liking my word this week. 🙂
You’re so sweet Millie! Thanks a ton for being so considerate 🙂
Great word. Perhaps I like it because I’m a bit of a buffoon (meaning 1. only and strictly for family and very close friends). Thanks for including “The Buffoon Playing the Lute” , I have an old tapestry of him but didn’t know it was by Franz Hals. Wonderful post!
I’d love to be a fly on the wall when you play the buffoon! And we all deserve to have some fun now and then, 🙂 How great that my picture helped you to find the name of your tapestry,too. How funny life can be. Thank you for the really interesting comment!
My pleasure, Millie. 🙂
Oh, and I absolutely adore Bob Hope. 🙂
I adore Bob Hope, too, as so many of our generation did! My mum loved him – and Jerry Lewis – so theirs were films we saw so often when we were young. I loved Bing Crosby’s voice too. I’ll always love his song with Grace Kelly. I could sing some of it now, but what it was called, I don’t remember. It could have been ‘True Love’ … or not! Thank you for stirring fond memories, Irina. 🙂
Yes, Jerry Lewis too. And Danny Kaye… I could watch ” The Jester” over and over again… Happy memories. 🙂
Oh, I remember that film! I think it was called, ‘The Court Jester’. My sister and I both loved Danny Kaye in that one. They were such simple films in those days, yet do funny. So many memories, Irina. Are you writing any more poems about yours? I’d really love to read them, if you do. 🙂
Yes, you’re right, ‘The Court Jester’. Lovely memories…Thanks for your interest in my poetry, Millie. 🙂