PUNCHINELLO

PRONUNCIATION: (pun-chuh-NEL-o)

MEANING: noun: A grotesque or absurd person.

ETYMOLOGY: From Italian (Naples dialect) polecenella (a short, fat buffoon, principal character in Italian puppet shows), diminutive of pollecena (turkey pullet), ultimately from Latin pullus (young chicken). From the resemblance of punchinello’s nose to a turkey’s beak. Earliest documented use: 1662.
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MUNCHINELLO a fat buffoon who eats all the time (see also PAUNCHINELLO}

PUNCHINJELLO - a gelatin dessert made with fruit punch (caution: if you try to spike it, the alcohol will prevent it from gelling)

PUNCHING 'ELLO - the practice of greeting friends with a knuckle to the upper arm

PUNCHLINE: LLO - (you make up this one)