fanfaron

[ fan-fuh-ron ]

noun

1. a braggart.
2. a fanfare.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fanfaron¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from French, from Spanish fanfarrón “braggart,” said to be of expressive origin

Example Sentences

Having gone through the fanfaron of a national welcome, in the shape of cheap receptions and monster meetings—having passed the entire ordeal, without succumbing to flattery, or giving his enemies the slightest cue for ridicule—this singular man had settled down in a modest suburban residence in the western district of London.

From Project Gutenberg

Now the fanfaron was of trumpets, drums, guns, and clapping hands, but soon wedding-bells would call the tune.

From Project Gutenberg

Scarron, who was nearly contemporary with Corneille, painted this character in Don Gaspard de Padille, the Fanfaron, as he is called, of the comedy Jodelet Duelliste.

From Project Gutenberg

Among Frenchmen famous in politics or letters who have “gone out” may be mentioned Armand Carrel, who fell in an encounter with �mile Girardin; Thiers, who thus atoned for a youthful indiscretion; the elder Dumas; Lamartine; Ste Beuve, who to show at once his sangfroid and his sense of humour, fought under an umbrella; Ledru Rollin; Edmond About; Cl�ment Thomas; Veuillot, the representative of the church militant; Rochefort; and Boulanger, the Bonapartist fanfaron, whose discomfiture in a duel with Floquet resulted in a notable loss of popular respect.

From Project Gutenberg

Last week in the Prix Georges Brinquant at Auteuil, Fanfaron won once more and put another 2,000-000 francs in his owner's pocket.

From Time Magazine Archive