n.
   - a comic entertainer, especially one in a circus, wearing a traditional costume and exaggerated make-up. 
▸a playful, amusing person.
 - a foolish or incompetent person.
 - archaic an unsophisticated country person.
 
v.
 act comically or playfully.
 
  Derivative
  
    - clownish adj.
  - clownishly adv.
  - clownishness n.
 
   
  Etymology
  C16: perh. of Low Ger. origin.