E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Buffoon
means one who puffs out his cheeks, and makes a ridiculous explosion by causing them suddenly to collapse. This being a standing trick with clowns, caused the name to be applied to low jesters. The Italian baffare is “to puff out the cheeks for the purpose of making an explosion;” our puff. (Italian buffone, a buffoon; French bouffon.
