Puppet

DEFINITION

A small-scale figure (as might represent a person or animal) traditionally either one with a cloth body and hollow head that fits over and is manipulated by the hand (aka "glove puppet"), or a marionette; having jointed parts animated from above by strings or wires, or from below by sticks. Bunraku is a traditional type of Japanese puppet. Contemporary puppets are sometimes controlled by electronic devices operated either by humans or computers, via a cable or remote control. These are called "animatronics." A puppet differs from an automaton in that a puppet's motion is caused by a live operator, while an automaton's movements are programmed. Given sufficient imagination, any sort of doll might serve as a puppet. One who operates puppets or who gives puppet shows is a puppeteer. Puppetry is the art of making or operating puppets, a branch of theater.