harlequin

Betekenis (Engels)

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A pantomime fool, typically dressed in colorful checkered clothes, used as a stock character in commedia dell'arte and other genres.
2. (countable, uncountable) A greenish-chartreuse color.
3. (countable, informal, uncountable) A harlequin duck.
4. (countable, uncountable) Any of various riodinid butterflies of the genera Taxila and Praetaxila.

Adj

1. (not-comparable) Brightly colored, especially in a pattern like that of a harlequin clown's clothes.
2. (not-comparable) Of a greenish-chartreuse color.

Verb

1. (transitive) To remove or conjure away, as if by a harlequin's trick.
2. (intransitive) To make sport by playing ludicrous tricks.

Sinonieme

clown

jester

buffoon

joker

fool

ludicrous

particoloured

wag

zany

harlequin fish

antic

harlequin rasbora

broadbill

burlesque

comedian

droll

Vertalings

arlequin

arlequín

arlecchino

Harlekin

arlequí

arlequim

baladin

harlekijn

αρλεκίνος

palyaço

maccus

Zappelphilipp

clown

multicolore

Hanswurst

Uitgespreek as (IPA)

/ˈhɑːlɪkwɪn/

Etimologie (Engels)

Verwante met Italiaans: Arlecchino

Verwante met Old Frisian: helle kin

Verwante met Old English: helle cyn

Verwante met Old Norse: heljar kyn

Verwante met Middle English: Hurlewain

In summary

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”).