motley

[ mot-lee ]

/ ˈmɒt li /

SEE 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.

Words nearby motley

motive, motive power, motivic, motivity, motlanthe, motley, motmot, moto, moto perpetuo, motocross, motofacient

Origin of motley

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

Definition for motley (2 of 2)

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. 2020

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

motley

adjective

noun, plural mot·leys.

Words related to motley

Words nearby motley

Origin of motley

Definition for motley (2 of 2)

noun

Examples from the Web for motley

British Dictionary definitions for motley

adjective

noun

Word Origin for motley