matachin

noun

ma·​ta·​chin

variants or less commonly matachine

ˌmätəˈchēn,

ˌma-,

-ˈshēn

plural -s see sense 1b

often attributive

1

a

: a sword dancer in a fantastic costume

called also bouffon

b

plural matachini

-ē(ˌ)nē

[Mexican Spanish matachín, from Spanish, matachin (sense 1a), from Italian mattaccino] : a member of a society of Mexican-Indian dancers who perform ritual dances

2

: a dance performed by a matachin

Word History

Etymology

Italian mattaccino, from matto madman, fool, from matto mad, crazy, from Latin mattus stupid, drunk

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