a. [f. CLOWN sb. + -ISH.]

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  1.  Of, belonging to, or proper to a clown or peasant; rustic.

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1570.  Levins, Manip., 145/11. Clownish, rusticus, agrestis.

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1581.  Savile, Tacitus’ Hist., III. lix. (1591), 150. Petilius Cerealis … in clownish apparell [agresti cultu] … had escaped Vitellius handes.

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a. 1704.  T. Brown, 2 Oxf. Scholars, Wks. 1730, I. 16. Honest peasants, whose clownish dances are attended with extempore verses.

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1824.  W. Irving, T. Trav., I. 300. He had the clownish advantage of bone and muscle.

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  2.  Clown-like, rude, boorish; uncultivated, ignorant, stupid; awkward, clumsy; rough, coarse.

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1581.  J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 415. A wonderfull clownishe conclusion, meete for such a clowting botcher.

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1586.  T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. (1589), 172. No clownish or uncivill fashions are seene in him.

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1653.  Bogan, Mirth Chr. Life, 189. His feares of being counted foolish, or childish, or clownish.

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1826.  Scott, Woodst., viii. His demeanour was so blunt as sometimes might be termed clownish.

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  3.  Of the nature of a stage clown or jester.

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  (This sense is doubtful in all the quotations.)

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1600.  Rowlands, Lett. Humours Blood, Epigr. xxx. 36. Clownes knew the Clowne, by his great clownish slop.

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1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., I. iii. 132. To steale The clownish Foole out of your Fathers Court.

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c. 1720.  Prior, Poems (1725), I. 187 (J.).

        With a grave Look, in this odd Equipage,
The clownish Mimic traverses the Stage.

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