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Added 28 September 2026

harlequin

/ˈhɑːlɪkwɪn/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about harlequin at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A pantomime fool, typically dressed in colorful checkered clothes, used as a stock character in commedia dell'arte and other genres.
A greenish-chartreuse color.
harlequin:
A harlequin duck.

adjective

Brightly colored, especially in a pattern like that of a harlequin clown's clothes.
Of a greenish-chartreuse color.

verb

To remove or conjure away, as if by a harlequin's trick.
To make sport by playing ludicrous tricks.

Origin

From earlier Harlicken, from Middle French Harlequin (in Italian Arlecchino, the name of a popular servant character in commedia dell'arte plays), from Old French Harlequin, Halequin, Herlequin, Hellequin, Hierlekin, Hellekin (a demon, malevolent spirit), probably of Germanic origin, connected to the Old English figure of *Herla Cyning (“King Herla”, a mythical figure identified with Woden) or possibly to Old Frisian helle kin, Old English helle cyn, Old Norse heljar kyn (“the kindred of Hell”). Related to Middle English Hurlewain (“a mischievous sprite or goblin”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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