marionette

Meaning

Noun

1. A puppet, usually made of wood, which is animated by the pulling of strings.
2. (obsolete) The buffel duck.

Verb

To control (somebody) as if they were a puppet; to manipulate.

Synonyms

puppet

doll

dummy

fantoccini

stooge

Punch-and-Judy show

string puppet

figure

manikin

moppet

poppet

Translations

Marionette

marionnette

marionet

marionetta

marioneta

marionete

títere

titella

kukla

μαριονέτα

pantin

fantoche

fantoche

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌmæɹi.əˈnɛt/

Etymology

Borrowed from French marionnette. The word had originally meant a small statue of the Virgin Mary, then also a puppet of her used in religious theatrical presentations, finally generalised to any puppet.