zanies

za ny |ˈzānē|     adjective ( -ni er , -ni est  )   amusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic // : zany humor.//     noun   an erratic or eccentric person. • historical a comic performer partnering a clown, whom he imitated in an amusing way. DERIVATIVES za ni ly  |-nəlē| |ˈzeɪn1li|  adverb za ni ness  |ˈzeɪnin1s|  noun    ORIGIN late 16th cent. : from French //zani// or Italian //zan(n)i//, Venetian form of //Gianni// , //Giovanni// //‘John,’// stock name of the servants acting as clowns in the //commedia dell'arte//.