/ ˈzeɪni; NAmE / adjective
( zani·er , zani·est ) ( informal ) strange or unusual in an amusing way
SYN wacky :
zany humour
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from French zani or Italian zan(n)i , Venetian form of Gianni , Giovanni John, stock name of the servants acting as clowns in the commedia dell'arte.