Slapstick

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Slapstick, American term for the bat, or flexible divided lath, used by a Harlequin. With it he gave the signal for the transformation scene and other changes of scenery in the harlequinade and belaboured the backsides of his enemies, making a great noise under pretence of striking heavy blows. The word became current in England in about 1900, and was later applied to the boisterous comedy of the clown and the low comedian, particularly to the knockabout farces and sketches of the music-hall.

slap·stick / ˈslapˌstik/ • n. comedy based on deliberately clumsy actions and humorously embarrassing events: [as adj.] slapstick humor. ∎  a device consisting of two flexible pieces of wood joined together at one end, used by clowns and in pantomime to produce a loud slapping noise.

slapstick comedy based on deliberately clumsy actions and humorously embarrassing events; a device consisting of two flexible pieces of wood joined together at one end, used by clowns and in pantomime to produce a loud slapping noise.

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