| 释义 |
▪ I. scaramouch, n.|ˈskærəmaʊtʃ, -muːtʃ, -maːʃ|
Forms: α. 7 scaramuzza, scaramoucha, -ouchi(o, -ouchè, -oche, scaramuccio, -uccie, -uchi(o, -ucha, scarramuccio, 7–8 scaramouchi; β. 7 scharamouch, 7– scaramouch.
[ad. It. Scaramuccia (see sense 1); the name is a use of scaramuccia skirmish n., in allusion to the character of the personage. The β form, which now alone survives, comes through the F. Scaramouche (Molière); the α forms represent corruptly the Italian original.]
1. (As proper name, with capital S.) A stock character in Italian farce, a cowardly and foolish boaster of his own prowess, who is constantly being cudgelled by Harlequin.
The character was intended in ridicule of the Spanish don, and was dressed in Spanish costume, usually black; the costume was often adopted in masquerades.
The clever impersonation of the part by Tiberio Fiurelli, who brought his company of Italian players to London in 1673, rendered the word very popular in England during the last quarter of the 17th c.
α1662J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Amb. vi. 380 Such distorted Countenances and Postures, as Scaramuzza himself would be much troubled to imitate. 1673Wycherley Gentl. Dancing-Master iii. i. 39, I diddè go to the Italian Academy at Paris thrice a week to learn to play de Fool of Signior Scaramouchè. 1673Dryden Epil. to Univ. Oxon. 15 Stout Scaramoucha with Rush Lance rode in, And ran a Tilt at Centaure Arlequin. 1673A. Marvel Rehearsall Transp. ii. 60 There were no less than six Scaramuccios together upon the Stage. 1676Shadwell Virtuoso v. 88 Entry of Scaramonchi [sic] and Clowns. Ibid. 89 Enter Sir Formal in Scaramoucha's habit. 1696V. Alsop God in Mount 13 Where are the Jesters, the Buffoons, the Scarramuccioes? Will not these afford a more pleasing entertainment?
β1677E. Ravenscroft (title) Scaramouch. Ibid., The Persons Names. Scaramouch, a Philosopher... Harlequin. 1678Dryden Kind Kpr. i. i. (1680) 10 But I speak no Italian, a few broken scraps which I pick'd from Scaramouch and Harlequin at Paris. 1749H. Walpole Let. to Mann 3 May, A troop of harlequins and scaramouches. 1771T. Hull Sir W. Harrington (1797) I. 143 Mrs. Granville a nun, myself a shepherdess, Lord S. a scaramouch [at the Masquerade]. 1855W. Irving Tour Prairies xix, Like a posture-master or scaramouch at a circus. 1876‘Ouida’ Winter City x. 315 She was silent watching the whirling of the pierrots..scaramouches and dominoes.
b. A puppet representing Scaramouch.
1816J. Scott Vis. Paris (ed. 5) 98 He gave motion to a small wooden scaramouch that danced well in tune. 1819S. Rogers Human Life 492 The booths whitening the village-green, Where Punch and Scaramouch aloft are seen. 1851–61Mayhew Lond. Lab. III. 52 This here is the Scaramouch that dances without a head.
2. transf. and fig. In later use often employed loosely as a term of contempt: A rascal, scamp.
α1676Durfey Madam Fickle ii. i. (1677) 11 Tob. Hoy; Scaramouchi, Rascal, Poltron, Popinjay!..must a Man of honour wait your leisure. a1683Oldham Rem. (1684) 113 Without doubt he was..design'd for the Scaramuchio of Mankind.
β1694Jer. Collier Miscell., Of Duelling 32 It makes the Laws cheap and ridiculous, the Solemnities of Justice a piece of Pageantry, the Bench a few Reverend Poppets, or Scharamouches in Scarlet. 1716in W. W. Wilkins Polit. Ballads (1860) II. 175 The scaramouches everywhere With open throats bawl'd out. 1824W. Irving T. Trav. II. 141 He swore no scaramouch of an Italian robber would dare to meddle with an Englishman. 1865Meredith Rhoda Fleming x, Once I was an idle young scaramouch.
3. attrib.
1870Disraeli Lothair lvii, The Sicilian with his scaramouch tricks got on very well with the gentle and polished Tuscan. 1906Athenæum 10 Mar. 294/3 Irresponsible Kitty..lived merrily throughout her scaramouch childhood and flirting girlhood.
Hence ˈscaramouch v. intr., to act the part of a scaramouch, or to behave like a scaramouch.
1834Beckford Italy I. 119 The rabble were gathered in knots round the strollers and mountebanks, singing and scaramouching in the middle of the square. 1864Mrs. Lloyd Ladies of Polcarrow 134 Didnt he use to scaramouch up over-stairs just the like o' that, when he was a purty little fellow!
▪ II. scaramouch
obs. form of skirmish n. |