[f. LAUGHING vbl. sb. + STOCK.] An object of laughter; a butt for ridicule; said both of persons and things.
1533. Frith, Bk. agst. Rastell (1829), 219. Albeit … I be reputed a laughing-stock in this world.
1581. Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 20. Poetry … is fallen to be the laughing stocke of children.
1667–8. Pepys, Diary, 4 Jan. I perceive my Lord Anglesey do make a mere laughing-stock of this Act.
1775. Sheridan, St. Patr. Day, II. iv. You’ll be a laughing stock to the whole bench, and a byword with all the pig-tailed lawyers.
1813. Sporting Mag., XLII. 213. He could not see any fun in being made a laughing-stock of.
1852. H. Rogers, Ecl. Faith (1864), 369. A numerous party to whom the old superstition was a laughing stock.
1881. M. Kaufmann, in Macm. Mag., XLIV. 118/1. No wonder that the parish priest becomes the laughingstock of the nobles.
