HARLEQUIN

harlequin

(noun) a clown or buffoon (after the Harlequin character in the commedia dell’arte)

harlequin

(verb) variegate with spots or marks; “His face was harlequined with patches”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

harlequin (plural harlequins)

A pantomime fool, typically dressed in checkered colorful clothes.

A greenish-chartreuse color.

(informal) A harlequin duck.

(entomology) Any of various riodinid butterflies of the genera Taxila and Praetaxila.

Usage notes

• Because of its origin in the name of an Italian theatrical character, Harlequin is often used as a proper noun.

Adjective

harlequin (not comparable)

Brightly colored, especially in a pattern like that of a harlequin clown's clothes.

Of a greenish-chartreuse color.

Verb

harlequin (third-person singular simple present harlequins, present participle harlequining, simple past and past participle harlequined)

(transitive) To remove or conjure away, as if by a harlequin's trick.

(intransitive) To make sport by playing ludicrous tricks.

Source: Wiktionary

Har"le*quin, n. Etym: [F. arlequin,formerly written also harlequin (cf. It, arlecchino), prob. fr. OF. hierlekin, hellequin, goblin, elf, which is prob. of German or Dutch origin; cf. D. hel hell. Cf. Hell, Kin.]

Definition: A buffoon, dressed in party-colored clothes, who plays tricks, often without speaking, to divert the bystanders or an audience; a merry-andrew; originally, a droll rogue of Italian comedy. Percy Smith. As dumb harlequin is exhibited in our theaters. Johnson. Harlequin bat (Zoöl.), an Indian bat (Scotophilus ornatus), curiously variegated with white spots.

– Harlequin beetle (Zoöl.), a very large South American beetle (Acrocinus longimanus) having very long legs and antennæ. The elytra are curiously marked with red, black, and gray.

– Harlequin cabbage bug. (Zoöl.) See Calicoback.

– Harlequin caterpillar. (Zoöl.), the larva of an American bombycid moth (Euchætes egle) which is covered with black, white, yellow, and orange tufts of hair.

– Harlequin duck (Zoöl.), a North American duck (Histrionicus histrionicus). The male is dark ash, curiously streaked with white.

– Harlequin moth. (Zoöl.) See Magpie Moth.

– Harlequin opal. See Opal.

– Harlequin snake (Zoöl.), a small, poisonous snake (Elaps fulvius), ringed with red and black, found in the Southern United States.

Har"le*quin, n. i.

Definition: To play the droll; to make sport by playing ludicrous tricks.

Har"le*quin, v. t.

Definition: Toremove or conjure away, as by a harlequin's trick. And kitten,if the humor hit Has harlequined away the fit. M. Green.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition