Bardolph

/ˈbɑːrdɒlf/ proper noun

Definition

A character in Shakespeare's plays (appearing in Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor), a red-faced, drunk soldier and companion of Falstaff.

Etymology

A name of uncertain origin, possibly Germanic combining 'bard' (beard) and 'olf/ulf' (wolf), though its use in Shakespeare's works elevated it to literary fame. Shakespeare likely chose it for its comical sound quality.

Kelly Says

Bardolph is famous for having an absurdly red nose—Shakespeare jokes that it could light the way in the dark—which shows how Shakespeare used visual humor and created characters so vivid they became types in literature.

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