ZebraWords.com - The Definition of 'Harlequin', Synonyms of 'Harlequin' & More on 'Harlequin'

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)

harlequin
    n 1: a clown or buffoon (after the Harlequin character in the
         commedia dell'arte)
    v 1: variegate with spots or marks; "His face was harlequined
         with patches"

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Harlequin \Har"le*quin\ (h[aum]r"l[-e]*k[i^]n or -kw[i^]n), v.
   i.
   To play the droll; to make sport by playing ludicrous tricks.
   [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Harlequin \Har"le*quin\ (h[aum]r"l[-e]*k[i^]n or -kw[i^]n), n.
   [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.]
   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.
   [1913 Webster]

         As dumb harlequin is exhibited in our theaters.
                                                  --Johnson.
   [1913 Webster]

   Harlequin bat (Zool.), an Indian bat (Scotophilus
      ornatus), curiously variegated with white spots.

   Harlequin beetle (Zool.), a very large South American
      beetle (Acrocinus longimanus) having very long legs and
      antenn[ae]. The elytra are curiously marked with red,
      black, and gray.

   Harlequin cabbage bug. (Zool.) See Calicoback.

   Harlequin caterpillar. (Zool.), the larva of an American
      bombycid moth (Euch[ae]tes egle) which is covered with
      black, white, yellow, and orange tufts of hair.

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

   Harlequin moth. (Zool.) See Magpie Moth.

   Harlequin opal. See Opal.

   Harlequin snake (Zool.), See harlequin snake in the
      vocabulary.
      [1913 Webster]

4. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Harlequin \Har"le*quin\, v. t.
   To remove or conjure away, as by a harlequin's trick.
   [1913 Webster]

         And kitten, if the humor hit
         Has harlequined away the fit.            --M. Green.
   [1913 Webster]

Thesaurus Results for harlequin:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

Columbine, Dalmatian, Hanswurst, Harlequin, Pantalone, Pantaloon, Polichinelle, Pulcinella, Punch, Punchinello, Scaramouch, antigorite, bicolor, bicolored, buffo, buffoon, butterfly, candy cane, chameleon, check, checker, checkerboard, checkerwork, cheetah, chessboard, chrysotile, clown, colorful, colors in patches, colory, confetti, crazy, crazy quilt, crazy-work, daedal, dichromatic, divers-colored, firedog, fool, iris, jack-pudding, jaguar, jester, kaleidoscopic, leopard, mackerel, mackerel sky, many-colored, marble, marbled paper, marquetry, medley, merry-andrew, moire, mosaic, mother-of-pearl, motley, motley fool, multicolor, multicolored, multicolorous, nacre, ocelot, opal, ophite, parquet, parquetry, parti-color, parti-colored, patchwork, patchwork quilt, peacock, pickle-herring, plaid, polychromatic, polychrome, polychromic, prismal, rainbow, serpentine, serpentine marble, shot, shot silk, shot through, spectral, spectrum, tartan, tessellation, tesserae, thunder and lightning, tortoise shell, trichromatic, trichromic, tricolor, tricolored, two-tone, varicolored, variegated, variegated pattern, versicolor, versicolored, zany, zebra

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