motley

[ mot-lee ]

/ ˈmɒt li /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR motley ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

exhibiting great diversity of elements: a motley crowd.

being of different colors combined: a motley flower border.

wearing a parti-colored garment: a motley fool.

noun, plural mot·leys.

a combination of different colors.

a parti-colored effect.

the parti-colored garment of a jester.

a heterogeneous assemblage.

a medley.

Nearby words

Origin of motley

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at mote¹, -ly

Motley

[ mot-lee ]

/ ˈmɒt li /

noun

John Lo·throp

[loh-thruh p] /ˈloʊ θrəp/, 1814–77, U.S. historian and diplomat.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for motley

A motley crew of former sailors led by Commodore Joshua Barney mounted the only real resistance to the British.
The Presidential Hopeful Obsessed With the War of 1812|Ben Jacobs|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A motley crew, to be sure: Islamic states, sub-Saharan Africa, China.
At the United Nations, It’s Human Rights, Putin-Style|Jay Michaelson|June 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The motley crew cast participates in an illegal cross-country car race, while doing anything to win.
10 Greatest Road Trip Movies|Marina Watts|May 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And a motley cast of characters—is that a guy in a chicken costume?
Comedians For Diplomacy: 'Give Peace a Dance'|Ali Gharib|September 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Works beautifully with lids of any size, and fits under one of our motley assortment of work islands with no trouble.
The 2012 Holiday Kitchen Gift Guide|Megan McArdle|December 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The motley passengers were all sound asleep; no one had been disturbed by the fracas.
Pirates of the Gorm|Nat Schachner
The irruption of this motley crew with beat of drum, according to ancient custom, was the consummation of uproar and merriment.
The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.|Washington Irving
Along that gorge rode a motley throng—bearded men on half-wild horses, five hundred strong, bristling with weapons.
The People of the Black Circle|Robert E. Howard
It clothed itself in motley flesh, and passed through green meadows and shady forests.
The Catholic World, Vol. X, October 1869|Various
We believe these to have been sincere expressions—inside his motley garb he had a heart of tenderness.
History of English Humour, Vol. 2 (of 2)|Alfred Guy Kingan L'Estrange

British Dictionary definitions for motley

motley

/ (ˈmɒtlɪ) /

adjective

made up of elements of varying type, quality, etc

multicoloured

noun

a motley collection or mixture

the particoloured attire of a jester

obsolete a jester

Word Origin for motley

C14: perhaps from mot speck, mote 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for motley

motley

adj.

late 14c., "parti-colored" (originally of fabric), from Anglo-French motteley, probably from Old English mot "speck" (see mote). But Klein's sources say probably from Gaulish. "Diversified in color," especially of a fool's dress. Hence, allusively, "a fool" (1600). As a noun meaning "cloth of mixed color" from late 14c.

motley

adjective

noun, plural mot·leys.

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Origin of motley

Motley

noun

Examples from the Web for motley

motley

adjective

noun

Word Origin for motley

motley