Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Scaramouch

Scaramouch , noun

[French scaramouche, Italian scaramuccio, scaramuccia, originally the name of a celebrated Italian comedian; compare Italian scaramuccia, scaramuccio, French escarmouche, skirmish. Compare Skirmish.]

A personage in the old Italian comedy (derived from Spain) characterized by great boastfulness and poltroonery; hence, a person of like characteristics; a buffoon.