harlequin
[ hahr-luh-kwin, -kin ]
/ ˈhɑr lə kwɪn, -kɪn /
noun
(often initial capital letter)
a comic character in commedia dell'arte and the harlequinade, usually masked, dressed in multicolored, diamond-patterned tights, and carrying a wooden sword or magic wand.
a buffoon.
any of various small snakes having bright diamond-pattern scales.
adjective
fancifully varied in color, decoration, etc.: harlequin pants.
resembling a harlequin's mask: harlequin glasses.
Origin of harlequin
1580–90; < French, Middle French (
h)arlequin, semantically (and in part phonetically) < Italian
arlecchino < Middle French, phonetically continuing Old French
*harlequin, halequin a malevolent spirit (Compare
mesniee Hellequin a troop of demonic horsemen, literally, Hellequin's escort), probably < Middle English
*Herla king, Old English
*Her(e)la cyning King Herle, presumably a legendary figure, rendered in AL as
Herla rex; compare Old High German
Herilo a personal name, derivative of
heri armed forces
OTHER WORDS FROM harlequin
har·le·quin·ism, nounWords nearby harlequin
Example sentences from the Web for harlequin
British Dictionary definitions for harlequin
harlequin
/ (ˈhɑːlɪkwɪn) /
noun
(sometimes capital) theatre
a stock comic character originating in the commedia dell'arte; the foppish lover of Columbine in the English harlequinade. He is usually represented in diamond-patterned multicoloured tights, wearing a black mask
a clown or buffoon
adjective
varied in colour or decoration
(of certain animals) having a white coat with irregular patches of black or other dark colour
harlequin Great Dane
comic; ludicrous
Word Origin for harlequin
C16: from Old French
Herlequin, Hellequin leader of band of demon horsemen, perhaps from Middle English
Herle king (unattested) King Herle, mythical being identified with Woden