跳踉

verb

same as 跳梁; to jump around; to leap about; to prance; (figurative) to play the clown or scoundrel

Originally described animals leaping about. Extended to describe people jumping around wildly. Now chiefly used in the set phrase 跳梁小丑 (or 跳踉小丑) to describe a contemptible villain or clown making a scene. 跳踉 is a variant graphic form of 跳梁, carrying the same meaning but less common in modern usage.