harlequin

[ hahr-luh-kwin, -kin ]

noun

1. (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.
2. a buffoon.
3. any of various small snakes having bright diamond-pattern scales.

adjective

1. fancifully varied in color, decoration, etc.:

   harlequin pants.

2. resembling a harlequin's mask:

   harlequin glasses.

harlequin

/ ˈhɑːlɪkwɪn /

noun

1. 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
2. a clown or buffoon

adjective

1. varied in colour or decoration
2. (of certain animals) having a white coat with irregular patches of black or other dark colour

   harlequin Great Dane

3. comic; ludicrous

Other Words From

• harle·quin·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of harlequin¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from French, Middle French (h)arlequin, semantically (and in part phonetically), from Italian arlecchino, from Middle French, phonetically continuing unattested Old French harlequin, halequin “a malevolent spirit” (compare mesniee Hellequin a troop of demonic horsemen, literally, “Hellequin's escort”), probably from unattested Middle English Herla king, Old English Her(e)la cyning “King Herle” (unattested), presumably a legendary figure, rendered in Anglo-Latin as Herla rex; compare Old High German Herilo a personal name, derivative of heri “armed forces”

Word History and Origins

Origin of harlequin¹

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

Example Sentences

The group is so susceptible to the disease that with the added pressures of climate change and habitat loss, around 70 percent of known harlequin frog species are now listed as extinct or critically engendered.

From Science News

The intricate beading in graphic harlequin patterns gave the garments a sense of grandeur and importance.

From The Daily Beast

The Harlequin hardback, out today, is appropriately dubbed: Sh*t Girls Say.

From The Daily Beast

The publishing house Harlequin enjoys a near monopoly in the romance genre.

From The Daily Beast

The protagonist of every book Harlequin puts out has to pass an editorial smell test as being “realistic.”

From The Daily Beast

Another way that Harlequin is adapting is through the same technology that has enabled self-publishing.

From The Daily Beast

She plays with Captain Lovelock as a child does with a wooden harlequin, she pulls a string and he throws up his arms and legs.

From Project Gutenberg

Haggard had disappeared with the celerity of a harlequin who jumps through a trap.

From Project Gutenberg

The carpet was of red baize with a Turkish border, and figured in the middle like an harlequin's jacket.

From Project Gutenberg

Harlequin had recruited a columbine and a shepherdess, and he introduced these ladies as partners for the promised minuet.

From Project Gutenberg

The gods of the Renaissance, in whom no one any longer believed, glided into the costumes of Harlequin and Pierrette.

From Project Gutenberg