■ adjective ( zanier , zaniest ) amusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic.
■ noun
1》 a ~ person.
2》 historical a comic performer partnering a clown, whom he imitated in an amusing way.
Derivatives
zanily adverb
zaniness noun
Origin
C16: from Fr. zani or Ital. zan(n)i , Venetian form of Gianni , Giovanni 'John', stock name of the servants acting as clowns in the commedia dell'arte.