harlequin

Meanings

Plural: harlequins

Noun

a clown or buffoon (after the Harlequin character in the commedia dell'arte)
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.
A harlequin duck.
Any of various riodinid butterflies of the genera Taxila and Praetaxila.

Verb

variegate with spots or marks
- "His face was harlequined with patches"
To remove or conjure away, as if by a harlequin's trick.
To make sport by playing ludicrous tricks.

Adj

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

Origin / Etymology

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”).

Scrabble Score: 21

harlequin is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
harlequin is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
harlequin is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 23

harlequin is a valid Words With Friends word