buffo

See also: Buffo and buffò

English

Etymology

From Italian buffo.

Noun

buffo (plural buffos or buffi)

  1. (music) A comic singer, particularly in comic opera
    • 2007 January 27, Vivien Schweitzer, “Young Lovers, a Vespa and a Frolic by Rossini”, in New York Times:
      Signor Bruschino was updated from a generic buffo character to an oily, scholarly-looking, suit-clad neurotic, excellently acted and sung by Marco Nistico.

Italian

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈbuf.fo/
  • Rhymes: -uffo
  • Hyphenation: bùf‧fo

Etymology 1

Compare Old French bouffer, originally "to puff up;" both are from Medieval Latin buffa, itself echoic of puffing out cheeks.[1]

Adjective

buffo (feminine buffa, masculine plural buffi, feminine plural buffe)

  1. funny, comical, amusing
  2. strange, odd, goofy
  3. whimsical
  4. playful
Derived terms

Etymology 2

Onomatopoeic.

Noun

buffo m (plural buffi)

  1. gust (of wind)
    Synonyms: folata, soffio
  2. puff (of smoke)
    Synonym: sbuffo
Derived terms

Etymology 3

Alteration of puf, from French pouf (debt), used in locutions such as faire pouf and à pouf.

Noun

buffo m (plural buffi)

  1. (Roman, usually in the plural) debt
    Synonym: debito

Etymology 4

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

buffo

  1. first-person singular present indicative of buffare

References

  1. Pianigiani, Ottorino (1907) “buffo”, in Vocabolario etimologico della lingua italiana (in Italian), Rome: Albrighi & Segati

Further reading

  • buffo1 in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana
  • buffo2 in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana
  • buffo3 in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana
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