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

While three narrow defeats by New Zealand have come in those matches, the 25-year-old Harlequin believes there is still plenty of time to follow New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter in guiding his team to World Cup glory.

From BBC

Several publishers, including Harlequin, Avon Books and Berkeley Romance, then dropped out from the annual conference.

From Seattle Times

Gaining entry to UCB first as a Jokeman, as male comics are referred to here, she rebels against the system to carve out a new path as her new identity Joker the Harlequin.

From Salon

“Harlequin, Refined by Love” was an unlikely choice of play for a budding director: Written in 1720 by Pierre de Marivaux, a master of romantic comedy, it taps heavily into the commedia dell’arte, a genre few current French theatermakers have explored.

From New York Times

Yet “Harlequin, Refined by Love” became a box-office hit, touring for four years with its initial cast, followed by frequent revivals.

From New York Times