The Collaborative International Dictionary
Merry-andrew \Mer"ry-an"drew\ (m[e^]r"r[y^]-[a^]n"dr[udd]), n. One whose business is to make sport for others; a buffoon; a zany; especially, one who attends a mountebank or quack doctor.
Note: This term is said to have originated from one Andrew Borde, an English physician of the 16th century, who gained patients by facetious speeches to the multitude.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"a buffoon; a zany; a jack-pudding" [Johnson], originally "mountebank's assistant," 1670s, from merry + masc. proper name Andrew, but there is no certain identification with an individual.
Wiktionary
n. (alternative spelling of Merry Andrew English); clown; buffoon.
Usage examples of "merry-andrew".
There was a good deal of merriment to divert our attention, for there were clowns and merry-andrews passing along the highroad, with singlestick players, Punch and Judy shows, and other public amusers.
Jones presently leapt from his bed, where he found the master of the puppet-show belabouring the back and ribs of his poor Merry-Andrew, without either mercy or moderation.