Boffola
/bəˈfɒlə/noun
A comic gag or joke in a play, film, or performance designed to produce a dependable laugh.
Did you know?The term belongs to theatrical jargon, where a “boffola” specifically means a reliably successful laugh line or comic business rather than merely any joke.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
Latin
buffāre
“To puff, blow, or make a comic sound; traditionally linked to the family behind Italian comic vocabulary.”
Medieval Period
Italian
buffo / buffa
“Comic, funny, or clownish; later used in theatrical and operatic contexts.”
17th–18th Century
Italian
opera buffa
“Comic opera, literally an opera in the comic style.”
19th Century
English
buffoon
“A clown or ridiculous entertainer, borrowed through Italian and French theatrical vocabulary.”
20th Century
English
boffola
“A stage gag or line intended to guarantee laughter, recorded in English theatrical slang.”