A principal joker, wit, or humorous person; a leading prankster or comedian.
From 'arch-' (chief) plus 'wag' (from Old English 'wagian', to move, evolving to mean a witty or playful person). This lighter compound appears in theatrical and social contexts.
The 'archwag' was basically the Elizabethan stand-up comedian—every court had one to entertain nobility. It's funny that even humor had to have a hierarchy, with one supreme jokester!
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