Definitions for harlequin
ˈhɑr lə kwɪn, -kɪnhar·le·quin

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. harlequinverb

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

2. harlequinverb

   variegate with spots or marks

   "His face was harlequined with patches"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. harlequinnoun

   a pantomime fool, typically dressed in checkered clothes

2. harlequinadjective

   brightly coloured, especially in a pattern like that of a harlequin clown's clothes

3. Etymology: From hellekijn, then in hellequin and in Arlecchino, the name of a popular servant character in commedia dell'arte plays from * ultimately from Herleking, from Herla Cyning, a mythical figure identified with Woden.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Harlequinnoun

   Etymology: This name is said to have been given by Francis of France to a busy buffoon, in ridicule of his enemy Charles le quint. Gilles Ménage derives it more probably from a famous comedian that frequented M. Harlay ’s house, whom his friends called Harlequino, little Harley. Trev.

   A buffoon who plays tricks to divert the populace; a Jack-pudding; a zani.

   The joy of a king for a victory must not be like that of a harlequin upon a letter from his mistress. Dryden.

   The man in graver tragick known,
   Though his best part long since was done,
   Still on the stage desires to tarry;
   And he who play’d the harlequin,
   After the jest still loads the scene,
   Unwilling to retire, though weary. Matthew Prior.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Harlequin

   Harlequin (; Italian: Arlecchino [arlekˈkiːno]; Lombard: Arleqin, Bergamasque pronunciation [arleˈkiː]) is the best-known of the zanni or comic servant characters from the Italian commedia dell'arte, associated with the city of Bergamo. The role is traditionally believed to have been introduced by Zan Ganassa in the late 16th century, was definitively popularized by the Italian actor Tristano Martinelli in Paris in 1584–1585, and became a stock character after Martinelli's death in 1630. The Harlequin is characterized by his chequered costume. His role is that of a light-hearted, nimble, and astute servant, often acting to thwart the plans of his master, and pursuing his own love interest, Columbina, with wit and resourcefulness, often competing with the sterner and melancholic Pierrot. He later develops into a prototype of the romantic hero. Harlequin inherits his physical agility and his trickster qualities, as well as his name, from a mischievous "devil" character in medieval passion plays. The Harlequin character first appeared in England early in the 17th century and took centre stage in the derived genre of the Harlequinade, developed in the early 18th century by John Rich. As the Harlequinade portion of the English dramatic genre pantomime developed, Harlequin was routinely paired with the character Clown. As developed by Joseph Grimaldi around 1800, Clown became the mischievous and brutish foil for the more sophisticated Harlequin, who became more of a romantic character. The most influential portrayers of the Harlequin character in Victorian England were William Payne and his sons the Payne Brothers, the latter active during the 1860s and 1870s.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. harlequin

   A harlequin is a character type in traditional pantomime, typically characterized by a masked face, colorful checkered costume, comedic role, and sometimes magical abilities. The term is also often used to describe anything brightly colored or variegated in pattern. It originated from a comic character in Italian Commedia dell'arte and later appeared in French pantomime.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Harlequinnoun

   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

2. Harlequin

   to play the droll; to make sport by playing ludicrous tricks

3. Harlequinverb

   toremove or conjure away, as by a harlequin's trick

4. Etymology: [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.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Harlequin

   Harlequin is the most popularly known of the zanni or comic servant characters from the Italian Commedia dell'arte and its descendant, the Harlequinade. The Harlequin is also known to be a type of clown.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Harlequin

   här′le-kwin, or -kin, n. the leading character in a pantomime, the lover of Columbine, in a tight spangled dress, with a wand, by means of which he is supposed to be invisible and to play tricks: a buffoon.—v.i. to play the harlequin.—n. Harlequināde′, the portion of a pantomime in which the harlequin plays a chief part.—Harlequin duck, a species of northern sea-duck, so called from its variegated markings. [Fr. harlequin, arlequin (It. arlecchino), prob. the same as O. Fr. Hellequin, a devil in medieval legend, perh. of Teut. origin.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. Harlequin

   a character in a Christmas pantomime, in love with Columbine, presumed to be invisible, and deft at tricks to frustrate those of the clown, who is his rival lover.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. harlequin

   Song lyrics by harlequin -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by harlequin on the Lyrics.com website.

Etymology and OriginsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Harlequin

   From the Italian arlechino, a satirist, a jester.

Matched Categories

1. • Mottle

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce harlequin?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say harlequin in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of harlequin in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of harlequin in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=harlequin
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Harlequin
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=harlequin
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlequin
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harlequin
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=harlequin
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=harlequin
9. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#Harlequin
10. ^ Etymology and Origins
    https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/54657/pg54657-images.html#:~:text=harlequin
11. ^ Usage in printed sources
    https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=harlequin