Pantaloon

1 a buffoon in modern pantomimes; the butt of jokes

2 a character in the commedia dell'arte; portrayed as a foolish old man

3 trousers worn in former times

English

Etymology

from Pantaleone, a traditonal character in 16th century Italian comedy. See Wikipedia article on Commedia dell'arte

Noun

1. An aging buffoon.
   • 1593, William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, Act III, Sc. 1, l. 37

     Hic ibat, as I told you before, —Simois, I am / Lucentio, hic est, son unto Vincentio of Pisa,— / Sigeia tellus, disguised thus to get your love; — / Hic steterat, and that Lucentio that comes / a-wooing, — Priami, is my man Tranio, — / regia, bearing my port, celsa senis, that we / might beguile the old pantaloon.

   • 1882, William Ballantine, Some Experiences of a Barrister's Life, page 234

     They constantly followed the virtuous pair, who as constantly eluded their grasp, whilst they themselves met with every kind of misfortune, until they became clown and pantaloon, […].

   • 1960, Lady Caroline Lane Reynolds Slemmer Jebb, With Dearest Love to All: The Life and Letters of Lady Jebb, page 213

     The Bishop is a lean and slippered pantaloon, at least in his old clerical garments which he thinks good enough for the sea.

2. Trousers reminiscent of the tight-fitting leggings traditionally worn by a pantaloon.
3. A kind of fabric.

Pantaloon may mean:

• Pantaloon Group, India's largest retail chain
• For modern western trousers (pants), see trousers

See also

• Pantalone, a character in the Italian commedia dell'arte

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