fantoccini

English

Etymology

From Italian [Term?], diminutive from fante (“child”).

Noun

fantoccini pl (plural only)

1. Puppets caused to enact dramatic scenes by means of machinery.
   • 1861, Henry Mayhew, London labour and the London poor, page 61:

     A man of the name of Flocton from Birmingham was, to the best of my knowledge, the first that ever had a fantoccini exhibition in England; but he was only for theatres […]

2. The puppet shows in which they are used.