fantoccini
English
Etymology
From Italian [Term?], diminutive from fante (“child”).
Noun
fantoccini pl (plural only)
- Puppets caused to enact dramatic scenes by means of machinery.
- 1861, Henry Mayhew, London labour and the London poor, page 61:
- A man of the name of Flocton from Birmingham was, to the best of my knowledge, the first that ever had a fantoccini exhibition in England; but he was only for theatres […]
-
- The puppet shows in which they are used.