buffo

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”, in Young Lovers, a Vespa and a Frolic by Rossini‎:

     Signor Bruschino was updated from a generic buffo character to an oily, scholarly-looking, suit-clad neurotic, excellently acted and sung by Marco Nistico.

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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

• buffamente

Related terms

• buffa
• buffare

Etymology 2

Onomatopoeic.

Noun

buffo m (plural buffi)

1. gust (of wind)

   Synonyms: folata, soffio

2. puff (of smoke)

   Synonym: sbuffo

Derived terms

• rabbuffare

Related terms

• bufare
• buffare

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