Obs. or rare arch. [f. prec.] trans. To play the zany to; to imitate poorly or awkwardly like a zany; hence gen. to imitate, mimic.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., IV. i. Who … Laughes them to scorne, as man doth busie apes When they will zanie men.
a. 1619. Fletcher, etc. Q. Cor., I. ii. [He] takes his oath … that all excellence In other Madams doe but zany hers.
1691. Langbaine, Acc. Dram. Poets, 351. Francisco’s zanying the Person and Humour of Albano, is an incident in several Plays.
1894. H. Pease, Mark o’ Deil, Pref. 7. If the delicious original be beyond capture, why essay to zany it?
