n.; pl. Zanies [ It. zanni a buffoon, merry-andrew, orig. same as Giovanni John, i. e., merry John, L. Ioannes, Gr. &unr_;, Heb. Yōkhānān, prop., the Lord graciously gave: cf. F. zani, fr. the Italian. Cf. Jenneting. ] A merry-andrew; a buffoon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then write that I may follow, and so be
Thy echo, thy debtor, thy foil, thy zany. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Preacher at once, and zany of thy age. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To mimic. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Your part is acted; give me leave at distance
To zany it. Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Comical in a clownish or buffoonish manner; whimsically comical. [ PJC ]

n. State or character of a zany; buffoonery. Coleridge. H. Morley. [ 1913 Webster ]