harlequin

American  

[hahr-luh-kwin, -kin] / ˈhɑr lə kwɪn, -kɪn /

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.

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adjective

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

   harlequin pants.

2. resembling a harlequin's mask.

   harlequin glasses.

harlequin British  

/ 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

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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 Word Forms

• harlequinism noun

Etymology

Origin of harlequin

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”

Explanation

If your little sister seems fascinated by the harlequin character in the play you're watching together, it might be because of the brightly colored, diamond-patterned tights he's wearing. A harlequin is a classic comic pantomime character. In traditional pantomime, a comic performance with silent actors, a harlequin is a funny character who wears a mask and a distinctive diamond-patterned costume. The word harlequin sometimes describes bright, many-colored colored things, like a harlequin circus tent. The oldest versions of the word harlequin — the Middle Dutch hellekijn and the Old French hellequin, reference Hell and mean a kind of demon. In the translation from French to English, the harlequin lost his demonic quality and became a clown.

Example Sentences

The harlequin lady beetle has helped farmers and gardeners control plant-eating pests, and defenders argue it is basically harmless.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 16, 2025

It is easy to tell the difference between the two species, as the seven-spot ladybird is red and has seven spots, while the harlequin can vary in colour and have a greater number of spots.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2025

It was a romantic, whimsical collection, full of ruffs and harlequin prints and sweeping skirts, and maybe not what we’d expect from a designer known for elegant minimalism.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 10, 2023

There’s Anastasia Durasova’s makeup that makes a face look like that of a melting high-glam harlequin.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2023

Dressed in harlequin style with a grey mask, he juggles shiny silver balls that correspond to each hour.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern