harlequinade

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

harlequinade
    n 1: acting like a clown or buffoon [syn: {buffoonery},
         {clowning}, {japery}, {frivolity}, {harlequinade}, {prank}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Harlequinade \Har"le*quin*ade`\ (-[=a]d`), n. [F. arleguinade.]
   A play or part of a play in which the harlequin is
   conspicuous; the part of a harlequin. --Macaulay.
   [1913 Webster]