Month 2 – Word of the day 24

Harlequin

means

(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

or

a clown or buffoon

or

varied in colour or decoration

The word originated from Old French Herlequin, Hellequin, etc., leader of la maisnie Hellequin, a troop of demons who rode the night air on horses.

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”