A grotesque puppet or character, especially one used in the French Grand-Guignol puppet theater, known for violent or sensational entertainment.
From French 'Guignol,' the main character of a popular French puppet theater tradition dating to the 18th century. The word evolved to mean grotesque or sensational theater more broadly.
Grand-Guignol was 'shock theater' for the 1800s—packed with gore and horror—and inspired modern horror entertainment; it shows every era thinks it invented extreme entertainment!
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