jackanape

English

Etymology

Back-formation from jackanapes.

Adjective

jackanape (comparative more jackanape, superlative most jackanape)

Of or pertaining to a jackanapes.
- c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
  I will teach a scurvy jackanape priest to meddle or make.

Noun

jackanape (plural jackanapes)

A jackanapes.

Usage notes

Originally and most commonly, jackanapes is written with a terminal -s, despite being used for the singular. Analyzing the -s as a plural suffix and removing it yields jackanape, which may be proscribed as incorrect, but sees some use.

References

“Attraction in English”, Charles P. G. Scott, Transactions of the American Philological Association, volume 25, 1893, p. 113

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