Word Study
scaramouch
CIDE DICTIONARY
scaramouch, n. [F. scaramouche, It. scaramuccio, scaramuccia, originally the name of a celebrated Italian comedian; cf. It. scaramuccia, scaramuccio, F. escarmouche, skirmish. Cf. Skirmish.].
A personage in the old Italian comedy (derived from Spain) characterized by great boastfulness and poltroonery; hence, a person of like characteristics; a buffoon. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
scaramouch, n. archaic a boastful coward; a braggart.
Etymology
It. Scaramuccia stock character in Italian farce f. scaramuccia = SKIRMISH, infl. by F form Scaramouche
ROGET THESAURUS
scaramouch
Humorist
N humorist, wag, wit, reparteeist, epigrammatist, punster, bel esprit, life of the party, wit-snapper, wit-cracker, wit- worm, joker, jester, Joe Miller, drole de corps, gaillard, spark, bon diable, practical joker, buffoon, farceur, merry-andrew, mime, tumbler, acrobat, mountebank, charlatan, posturemaster, harlequin, punch, pulcinella, scaramouch, clown, wearer of the cap and bells, wearer of the motley, motley fool, pantaloon, gypsy, jack-pudding, jack in the green, jack a dandy, wiseacre, wise guy, smartass, fool, zany, madcap, pickle-herring, witling, caricaturist, grimacier, persifleur.For further exploring for "scaramouch" in Webster Dictionary Online