commediadell'arte

com·me·dia dell'ar·te (kə-mā'dē-ə dĕl-ärʹtē, -tĕ, -mĕd'ē-ə) n.

A type of comedy developed in Italy in the 16th and 17th centuries and characterized by improvisation from a standard plot outline and the use of stock characters, often in traditional masks and costumes.

  [Italian : commedia, comedy + dell'arte, of the guild, professional (from arte, art, craft, guild).]

* * *