Commedia Dell'arte Definition
kə-mādē-ə dĕl-ärtē, -tĕ, -mĕdē-ə
noun
A type of Italian comedy developed in the 16th through 18th cent. and employing a stereotyped plot, improvised dialogue, and stock characters such as Pantaloon, Harlequin, and Columbine.
Webster's New World
Origin of Commedia Dell'arte
Italian commedia comedy dell'arte of the guild, professional (from arte art, craft, guild)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
