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Buffoon vs Droll - What's the difference?

buffoon | droll |

As nouns the difference between buffoon and droll

is that buffoon is one who acts in a silly or ridiculous fashion; a clown or fool while droll is a buffoon.

As verbs the difference between buffoon and droll

is that buffoon is to behave like a buffoon while droll is to joke, to jest.

As an adjective droll is

oddly humorous; whimsical, amusing in a quaint way; waggish.

buffoon

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • One who acts in a silly or ridiculous fashion; a clown or fool.
  • * Melmoth
  • To divert the audience with buffoon postures and antic dances.
  • (pejorative) An unintentionally ridiculous person.
  • Usage notes

    * In the United States the term is used most commonly to describe inappropriate, clownish figures on the public stage; here the behavior of a variety of public figures have caused them to be described as buffoons by their political opponents. * In the UK the term is used more broadly, to describe such people who are held in popular regard but who nevertheless engender amusement with their pronouncements and acts.

    Derived terms

    * buffoonery

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To behave like a
  • * {{quote-news, 1988, January 22, Henry Sheehan, Little Boy Blue, Chicago Reader citation
  • , passage=His mimicry of gay speech and facial expressions is analagous to an Amos 'n' Andy routine, in which white men buffooned their way through incredibly demeaning impersonations of black men.}}

    droll

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • oddly humorous; whimsical, amusing in a quaint way; waggish
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * drollery * drolly * drollness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (archaic) A buffoon
  • * , Episode 12, The Cyclops
  • Our two inimitable drolls did a roaring trade with their broadsheets among lovers of the comedy element and nobody who has a corner in his heart for real Irish fun without vulgarity will grudge them their hardearned pennies.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To joke, to jest.
  • * 1886 , Robert Louise Stevenson, Kidnapped
  • "Eh, man," said I, drolling with him a little, "you're very ingenious! But would it not be simpler for you to write him a few words in black and white?

    Anagrams

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