Pantalone

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A character type in commedia dell'arte known for his miserly, greedy nature who often appears in humorous scenarios
2. A stock figure in Italian theatrical comedy characterized by his old age, financial obsession, and foolish antics
3. A traditional comedic persona in performance art embodying traits of a wealthy, avaricious man, often paired with younger characters

Etymology: The stock old man of Italian comedy took his name from a saint. Pantalone, the miserly merchant of the commedia dell'arte, is traditionally linked to Venice, and his name is generally thought to derive from San Pantaleone, a Christian martyr venerated in Venice. The name then passed to Spain as the surname "Pantaleón," and from there into Italian as "Pantalone." That stage character gave English a garment. The French word "pantalon," meaning close-fitting trousers, was borrowed from the Italian name, so the trousers were named after the comic figure who wore them. English then took the French word as "pantaloon," which at first described the baggy, tight-legged breeches of that costume. The name eventually came to denote trousers in general, and the old comic figure faded into the background.