Plural of clown; performers who entertain through comedy, often wearing colorful costumes and makeup. Can also refer to foolish or ridiculous people.
From Middle English 'cloun', originally meaning a rustic or country fellow, possibly from Old Norse 'klunni' (clumsy fellow). The theatrical meaning developed in the 16th century as rustic characters became comic entertainers.
The evolution from 'country bumpkin' to 'entertainer' reflects how rural people were often stereotyped as simple and amusing to urban audiences. Modern coulrophobia (fear of clowns) ironically stems from figures originally meant to be comfortingly familiar—the scary clown is a relatively recent cultural development.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.