Punch

Punch, the name of the hero in the puppet show, is an abbreviation of Punchinello, the original form of which is said to have been Pulcinello (Italian, "little chicken"); but on this theory the name implies something small, whereas the character of Punchinello is said to have been derived from the ordinary Neapolitan stage-comedy. Whatever truth there may be in the view which regards Punch as the descendant of the Maccus of the Atellanas (q.v.), there can be no doubt that in his present character, at any rate, he is a creation of modern times. His invention is ascribed to Silvio Fiorillo, a comedian who lived at the beginning of the 17th century. Punch soon became popular in France, and seems to have been introduced into England soon after the Restoration.