[za.ny] n, pl zanies [It zanni, a traditional masked clown, fr. It dial. Zanni, nickname for It Giovanni John] (1588) 1: a subordinate clown or acrobat in old comedies who mimics ludicrously the tricks of the principal: merry-andrew
2: a slavish follower: toady 3 a: one who acts the buffoon to amuse others b: nut, kook
[2]zany adj za.ni.er ; -est (1616) 1: being or having the characteristics of a zany
2: fantastically or absurdly ludicrous -- za.ni.ly adv -- za.ni.ness n