zany: [16] Zany originated as the name of a character in the old Italian commedia dell’arte, who tried, rather feebly, to mimic the antics of the clown. It came from Italian Zanni, a Venetian and Lombardic variant of Gianni, the pet form of Giovanni (the Italian equivalent of English John). Its meaning was broadened out to ‘buffoon’ in the 17th century, but it does not seem to have really established itself as an adjective until the mid 19th century. => john
zany (n.)
comic performer, 1580s, from French zani, from Italian zani, zanni "a zany, clown," originally Zanni, Venetian dialect variant of Gianni, pet form of Giovanni "John;" thus equivalent to English Jack. A stock character in old comedies, he aped the principal actors.
zany (adj.)
1610s, from zany (n.). Related: Zanily; zaniness.
例文
1. Michael made us all laugh with his zany tricks.
マイケルはいろいろなおかしなトリックをして私たちを笑わせた。
2.She made us all laugh with her zany tricks.
彼女の滑稽な悪作劇に私たちは大笑いした。
3.He tried lecturing in California again with great success in the style of zany inconsequence.
カリフォルニアで講演し、大成功した。ギャグも丑役を模した滑稽だ。
4.He tried lecturing in California，again with great success，in the Ward style of zany inconsequence.
彼はカリフォルニアで講演し、また非常に成功し、ギャグもウォードの真似をしている。
5.Is that zany approach an advantage for you or for your viewers？