Zany \Za"ny\, n.; pl. {Zanies}. [It. zanni a buffoon,
merry-andrew, orig. same as Giovanni John, i. e., merry John,
L. Ioannes, Gr. ?, Heb. Y[=o]kh[=a]n[=a]n, prop., the Lord
graciously gave: cf. F. zani, fr. the Italian. Cf.
{Jenneting}.]
A merry-andrew; a buffoon.

Then write that I may follow, and so be
Thy echo, thy debtor, thy foil, thy zany. --Donne.

Preacher at once, and zany of thy age. --Pope.