Falstaff
Falstaff (noun) means a jovial, overweight, and boastful character, used allusively — from the Shakespeare character Sir John Falstaff. Example: “The actor played the role with a Falstaff-like charm and bluster.”
How to use Falstaff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed to describe someone jolly, overweight, and full of bravado, after the famous Shakespeare character.
Word forms
Falstaffs plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The actor played the role with a _____-like charm and bluster.
Etymology
From Sir John Falstaff, a comic character created by William Shakespeare who appears in the Henry IV plays and The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Falstaff” mean?
The word “Falstaff” means a jovial, overweight, and boastful character, used allusively — from the Shakespeare character Sir John Falstaff. In plain terms, used to describe someone jolly, overweight, and full of bravado, after the famous Shakespeare character.
How do you use “Falstaff” in a sentence?
Here is “Falstaff” used in a sentence: “The actor played the role with a Falstaff-like charm and bluster.”
What part of speech is “Falstaff”?
“Falstaff” is a noun.
What is the meaning of Falstaff?
"Falstaff" (noun) means a jovial, overweight, and boastful character, used allusively — from the Shakespeare character Sir John Falstaff.
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