— zanily , adv. — zaniness, zanyism , n. — zanyish , adj.
/zay"nee/ , adj., zanier, zaniest , n. , pl. zanies .
adj.
1. ludicrously or whimsically comical; clownish.
n.
2. one who plays the clown or fool in order to amuse others.
3. a comically wild or eccentric person.
4. a secondary stock character in old comedies who mimicked his master.
5. a professional buffoon; clown.
6. a silly person; simpleton.
7. a slavish attendant or follower.
[ 1560-70; ( zan ( n ) i (later zanno ) a servant character in the commedia dell'arte, perh. orig. the character's name, the Upper Italian form of Tuscan Gianni, for Giovanni John ]
Syn. 3. kook, crazy, lunatic.