Harlequin word meaning and definition

[noun] a clown or buffoon (after the Harlequin character in the commedia dell'arte)
[verb] variegate with spots or marks; "His face was harlequined with patches"

\Har"le*quin\, 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. As dumb harlequin is exhibited in our theaters. --Johnson. {Harlequin bat} (Zo["o]l.), an Indian bat ({Scotophilus ornatus}), curiously variegated with white spots. {Harlequin beetle} (Zo["o]l.), 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}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Calicoback}. {Harlequin caterpillar}. (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), a North American duck ({Histrionicus histrionicus}). The male is dark ash, curiously streaked with white. {Harlequin moth}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Magpie Moth}. {Harlequin opal}. See {Opal}. {Harlequin snake} (Zo["o]l.), a small, poisonous snake ({Elaps fulvius}), ringed with red and black, found in the Southern United States.
\Har"le*quin\, n. i. To play the droll; to make sport by playing ludicrous tricks.
\Har"le*quin\, v. t. Toremove or conjure away, as by a harlequin's trick. And kitten,if the humor hit Has harlequined away the fit. --M. Green.

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