Dictionary entry

Punchinello

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Pun′chi‐nel″lo (?), n. [It. pulcinella, probably originally a word of endearment, dim. of pulcina, pulcino, a chicken, from L. pullicenus, pullus. See Pullet.] A punch; a buffoon; originally, in a puppet show, a character represented as fat, short, and humpbacked. Spectator.