noun
auguste
ow-GOOST
noun
1
A type of clumsy, red-nosed circus clown who plays the troublemaker against the more composed whiteface clown.
"The auguste tripped over his own oversized shoes to get a laugh from the crowd."
"In the classic clown duo, the whiteface gives the orders and the auguste botches them."
How to Use Auguste
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe bumbling, chaotic clown character in a traditional two-clown circus act.
Common mistake
Not the same word as the month "August" or the name Augustus, even though it looks related.
Word Forms
augustes plural
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The _____ tripped over his own oversized shoes to get a laugh from the crowd.
Etymology
Borrowed from French auguste, itself from a German nickname (dumme August, "silly August") once used for a clumsy fool.