Zany

Origin of: Zany

Zany

Zany is a word that has come to mean clownish in an offbeat sort of way. It is a lot older than most realise, dating back to the 16th century, and derives from the Italian zani or zanni, which is the short form of Gianni or Giovanni (John), who was always a stock character in Old Italian comedies, playing the role of a simpleton or clown.