Harlequin

[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.
adjective
4.
fancifully varied in color, decoration, etc.:
harlequin pants.
5.
resembling a harlequin’s mask:
harlequin glasses.
/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
3.
varied in colour or decoration
4.
(of certain animals) having a white coat with irregular patches of black or other dark colour: harlequin Great Dane
5.
comic; ludicrous
n.

1580s, from Middle French harlequin, from Old French Herlequin, Hellequin, etc., leader of la maisnie Hellequin, a troop of demons who rode the night air on horses. He corresponds to Old English Herla cyning “King Herla,” mythical character sometimes identified as Woden; possibly also the same as the German Erlkönig “Elf King” of the Goethe poem. Sometimes also associated with Herrequin, 9c. count of Boulogne, who was proverbially wicked. In English pantomime, a mute character who carries a magic wand. His Italian form, arlecchino, is one of the stock characters of commedia del’arte. From his ludicrous dress comes the English adjective meaning “particolored” (1779).