clown

[ kloun ]
/ klaʊn /

noun

a comic performer, as in a circus, theatrical production, or the like, who wears an outlandish costume and makeup and entertains by pantomiming common situations or actions in exaggerated or ridiculous fashion, by juggling or tumbling, etc.
a person who acts like a clown; comedian; joker; buffoon; jester.
a prankster; a practical joker.
Slang. a coarse, ill-bred person; a boor.
a peasant; rustic.

verb (used without object)

to act like a clown.

Origin of clown

1555–65; earlier cloyne, clowne, perhaps akin to Old Norse klunni boor, Danish dialect klunds, Swedish dialect klunn log

OTHER WORDS FROM clown

clown·ish, adjective clown·ish·ly, adverb clown·ish·ness, noun

Example sentences from the Web for clown

British Dictionary definitions for clown

clown
/ (klaʊn) /

noun

verb (intr)

Derived forms of clown

clownery, noun clownish, adjective clownishly, adverb clownishness, noun

Word Origin for clown

C16: perhaps of Low German origin; compare Frisian klönne, Icelandic klunni clumsy fellow