Origin of marionetteFr, diminutive of Marion: see Marion
Origin of marionetteFrench marionnette, from Old French, musical instrument, diminutive of mariole, the Virgin Mary (influenced by the name Marion), from diminutive of Marie, Mary, from Late Latin Maria; see Mary1.
(third-person singular simple present marionettes, present participle marionetting, simple past and past participle marionetted)
- To control (somebody) as if they were a puppet; to manipulate.
French marionnette. One of the first figures to be made into a marionette was the Virgin Mary, hence the name.