fantoccini

[ fan-tuh-chee-nee ]

plural noun

1. puppets or marionettes manipulated by strings, wires, or mechanical devices.
2. puppet shows using these puppets.

fantoccini

/ ˌfæntəˈtʃiːnɪ /

plural noun

1. marionettes
2. puppet shows in which they are used

Word History and Origins

Origin of fantoccini¹

First recorded in 1770–1780; from Italian, plural of fantoccino, diminutive of fantoccio “doll,” a derivative of fante “child, boy, servant,” by loss of unaccented first syllable from infante, from Latin īnfant-, stem of īnfāns; infant ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of fantoccini¹

C18: from Italian: little puppets, plural of fantoccino , from fantoccio puppet, from fante boy, from Latin infāns infant

Example Sentences

He has put me right, however, by informing me, that he writes himself artist from Vauxhall, and that he exhibits fantoccini; call them what you will, it seems they gave great delight to the unwashed artificers of G——.

From Project Gutenberg

The fantoccini did credit to their machinist, who was skilful at pulling of wires.

From Project Gutenberg

Fantoccini, fan-to-chē′nē, n.pl. puppets worked by machinery: dramatic performances by puppets.

From Project Gutenberg

Some scenes, written under the high pressure of dramatic œstrum, stir tears by their poignancy, by the accents of grief and anguish on the lips of fantoccini.

From Project Gutenberg

In its original prospectus its political creed was outlined as follows: "Punch has no party prejudices; he is conservative in his opposition to Fantoccini and political puppets, but a progressive whig in his love of small change and a repeal of the union with public Judies."

From Project Gutenberg