First Known Use: 1588
Dictionary
1zany
noun za·ny \ˈzā-nē\
plural zanies
Definition of ZANY
1
: a subordinate clown or acrobat in old comedies who mimics ludicrously the tricks of the principal : merry-andrew
2
: a slavish follower : toady
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Origin of ZANY
Italian zanni, a traditional masked clown, from Italian dialect Zanni, nickname for Italian Giovanni John
Other Performing Arts Terms
2zany
adjective
: very strange and silly
za·ni·erza·ni·est
Full Definition of ZANY
1
: being or having the characteristics of a zany
2
: fantastically or absurdly ludicrous <a zany movie>
— za·ni·ly \ˈzā-nə-lē\ adverb
— za·ni·ness \ˈzā-nē-nəs\ noun
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First Known Use of ZANY
1609
Related to ZANY
- Synonyms
- absurd, asinine, balmy, brainless, bubbleheaded, cockeyed, crackpot, crazy, cuckoo, daffy, daft, dippy, dotty, fatuous, featherheaded, fool, half-baked, harebrained, half-witted, inept, insane, jerky, kooky (also kookie), loony (also looney), lunatic, lunkheaded, mad, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, sappy, screwball, senseless, silly, simpleminded, stupid, tomfool, unwise, wacky (also whacky), weak-minded, witless, foolish
Other Performing Arts Terms
ZANY[1] Defined for Kids
zany
adjective za·ny \ˈzā-nē\
za·ni·erza·ni·est
Definition of ZANY for Kids
: very strange and silly <a zany plan>
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