Words at Play : A Thoughtful Guide to Words About Nonsense
Definition:
: foolish or playful behavior or practice
Example:
"Jersey Shore" finally – and mercifully – concludes Thursday after six seasons of spray-on tans, easy hookups, multiple arrests and general buffoonery." – Chuck Barney, MercuryNews.com (San Jose, CA), December 19, 2012
About the Word:
Buffoonery comes from buffoon, originally the name for a fellow whose profession was to entertain others by tricks, gestures, or comic pantomime. The word buffoon comes from the Latin word for "toad."