motley

¹

[mot-lee]

adjective

1. exhibiting great diversity of elements.

   a motley crowd.

   Synonyms: divergent, dissimilar, diversified, disparate, incongruous, sundry, assorted, mixed, diverse, varied, heterogenous
   Antonyms: like, similar, identical, uniform, homogeneous

2. being of different colors combined.

   a motley flower border.

   Synonyms: polychromatic, variegated, multicolored, parti-colored, dappled, mottled, piebald, pied
   Antonyms: solid, monochromatic

3. wearing a parti-colored garment.

   a motley fool.

noun

plural

motleys 

1. a combination of different colors.

2. a parti-colored effect.

3. the parti-colored garment of a jester.

4. a heterogeneous assemblage.

5. a medley.

   Synonyms: miscellany, jumble, hodgepodge, conglomeration, farrago, gallimaufry, pastiche, potpourri, olio

Motley

²

[mot-lee]

noun

1. John Lothrop 1814–77, U.S. historian and diplomat.

motley

/ ˈmɒtlɪ /

adjective

1. made up of elements of varying type, quality, etc

2. multicoloured

noun

1. a motley collection or mixture

2. the particoloured attire of a jester

3. obsolete,  a jester

Word History and Origins

Origin of motley¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English motele, motlay, mottelay “mixture of colors, variegated; a parti-colored garment”; of uncertain origin; perhaps akin to mote ¹. See -ly ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of motley¹

C14: perhaps from mot speck, _mote ¹

Example Sentences

The first film I saw in a theater was “The Love Bug,” Disney’s 1969 comedy about a sentient Volkswagen Beetle named Herbie and the motley team who race him to many a checkered flag.

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Through their perspectives, black humor flows freely, as the motivations and experiences that brought this motley crew together rise to the surface.

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One of the key modernist figures formed her dance company 60 years ago as a motley troop of five women who danced spontaneously outdoors for passersby.

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Yeoh describes “Section 31” as “Mission: Impossible” in space, with “a motley crew” of morally flexible spies.

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To this day, she shares her home with a motley crew of horses, dogs and cats — either rescued or invited in because they arrived one day and refused to leave.

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Related Words

• disparate 
• kaleidoscopic