merry-andrew

[ mer-ee-an-droo ]

noun

1. a clown; buffoon.

merry-andrew

noun

1. a joker, clown, or buffoon

Word History and Origins

Origin of merry-andrew¹

1665–75; merry + Andrew, generic use of the proper name

Word History and Origins

Origin of merry-andrew¹

C17: original reference of Andrew unexplained

Example Sentences

“Persons who naïvely mistake me for a merry-andrew with an inflated pig’s bladder can never understand that I adore whichever tradition I am striving to follow,” he said in a 1980 interview.

From The New Yorker

The footmen in yellow were his tumblers and trumpeters, and those in blue his merry-andrew, his apothecary, and his spokesman.

From Project Gutenberg

Cousin Thompson—the ex-grocer of Haggart's Cross—considered swallow-tails and white chokers to be fanciful nonsense: he would not make a merry-andrew of himself to please anybody.

From Project Gutenberg

But his chief delight was in pursuing the profession of a juggler, mountebank, or merry-andrew, among the lowest rabble.

From Project Gutenberg

If I were to charge a battery, I’d only look like a merry-andrew after all; men will not respect what is only laughable.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• buffoon
• comedian
• comic
• fool
• jester
• mime
• prankster