slapstick

/slˈæpstɪk/

slapstick

English Noun

Definition

A style of humor focusing on physical comedy, such as slipping on a banana peel, and with foolish characters who get into humiliating situations.

Etymology

From slap + stick, calque of Italian batacchio. The pair of sticks was used by the comic character Harlequin in the commedia dell'arte.