Brewer's: Zan'y

More correctly, Zanny (Italian zanni, a buffoon; Latin sannio, “sanna” means a grimace, and “sanneo” one who makes grimaces).

…for indeed, He's like the zani to a tumbler That tries tricks after him to make men laugh.

B.Jonson: Every Man out of his Humour, iv. 2.

“He belonged to one of those dramatic companies called zanni, who went about the country reciting and acting.” —John Inglesant, chap. xxvii

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