As we know them today, clowns have been around for some 200 years. Sometimes scary, sometimes goofy, clowns are famous in many cultures worldwide. The word clown first appeared in 1560; it may have come from, of all places, Iceland and the Icelandic word klunni translation: a clumsy person. They both wear colorful clothing to exaggerate their characters, but a clown is a performance artist who uses slapstick in a routine. A jester is an entertainer who jokes and mocks people and will improvise on the spot. A clown makes a fool of himself; a jester makes a fool of the audience.