punch

Punch

Hooknosed, humpbacked character in marionette and puppet shows (see puppetry). Adapted from a stock character of the commedia dell'arte, the puppet character was taken to France and England by Italian puppeteers in the 1660s. By 1700 every English puppet show featured Punch (from Punchinello) and his wife, Judy. As marionettes became less popular in the 1790s, smaller glove puppets were used in the popular Punch-and-Judy play. The hooked nose and the brutal, vindictive, and deceitful behaviour of the English Punch were established characteristics by the 19th century. In France his popularity declined during the 19th and 20th centuries, and he disappeared there as a comic figure. Puppeteers in England have carried on the tradition of Punch-and-Judy shows.

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Punch

English illustrated periodical published 1841–1992 and revived in 1996 with a revised format. Initially a weekly radical paper, it became famous for its satiric humour, caricatures, and cartoons. Among its famous early staff members were William Thackeray and John Tenniel. A cover drawing by Richard Doyle was used continuously from 1849 to 1956, when each issue's cover was made different, though the traditional figures of Punch and his dog Toby usually appeared somewhere.

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punch¹

1. a tool or machine for piercing holes in a material

2. any of various tools used for knocking a bolt, rivet, etc., out of a hole

3. a tool or machine used for stamping a design on something or shaping it by impact

4. the solid die of a punching machine for cutting, stamping, or shaping material

5. Computing a device, such as a card punch or tape punch, used for making holes in a card or paper tape

6. See centre punch

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punch²

any mixed drink containing fruit juice and, usually, alcoholic liquor, generally hot and spiced