punchinello Meaning, Definition & Usage

Pun`chi*nel"lo noun

Etymology

It. pulcinella, probably originally a word of endearment, dim. of pulcina, pulcino, a chicken, from L. pullicenus, pullus. See Pullet.

Definitions

1. A punch; a buffoon; originally, in a puppet show, a character represented as fat, short, and humpbacked. Spectator.