merry-andrew

merry-andrew
merry-andrew "a buffoon; a zany; a jack-pudding" [Johnson], originally "mountebank's assistant," 1670s, from MERRY (Cf. merry) + masc. proper name ANDREW (Cf. Andrew), but there is no certain identification with an individual.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Merry Andrew — can mean: Merry andrew (clown) Merry Andrew (film), a musical comedy starring Danny Kaye and Pier Angeli This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link …   Wikipedia

  • merry-andrew — [mer′ē an′dro͞o΄] n. [ MERRY + ANDREW: orig. uncert.] a buffoon; clown …   English World dictionary

  • Merry-andrew — Mer ry an drew (m[e^]r r[y^] [a^]n dr[udd]), n. One whose business is to make sport for others; a buffoon; a zany; especially, one who attends a mountebank or quack doctor. [1913 Webster] Note: This term is said to have originated from one Andrew …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • merry-andrew — | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈan(ˌ)drü noun ( s) Usage: often capitalized M&A Etymology: merry (I) + the name Andrew : one that clowns publicly : buffoon, mountebank …   Useful english dictionary

  • merry-andrew — noun Usage: often capitalized M&A Etymology: merry + Andrew, proper name Date: 1677 a person who clowns publicly …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • merry-andrew — /mer ee an drooh/, n. a clown; buffoon. [1665 75; MERRY + Andrew, generic use of the proper name] * * * …   Universalium

  • Merry Andrew — noun A person who clowns publicly; a buffoon; an entertainers assistant. Instead, therefore, of answering my landlady, the puppet show man ran out to punish his Merry Andrew [...] …   Wiktionary

  • merry-andrew — mer′ry an′drew [[t] ˈæn dru[/t]] n. a clown; buffoon • Etymology: 1665–75; merry+Andrew, generic use of the proper name …   From formal English to slang

  • Merry Andrew (film) — Merry Andrew Original poster Directed by Michael Kidd Produced by …   Wikipedia

  • merry-andrew — merry an·drew …   English syllables

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