[hahr-luh-kwin, -kin] 
| 1. | (often initial capital letter ) a comic character in commedia dell'arte and the harlequinade, usually masked, dressed in multicolored, diamond-patterned tights, and carrying a wooden sword or magic wand. |
| 2. | a buffoon. |
| 3. | any of various small snakes having bright diamond-pattern scales. |
| 4. | fancifully varied in color, decoration, etc.: harlequin pants. |
| 5. | resembling a harlequin's mask: harlequin glasses. |
| har·le·quin (här'lĭ-kwĭn, -kĭn) n.
[Obsolete French, from Old French Herlequin, Hellequin, a demon, perhaps from Middle English *Herleking, from Old English Herla cyning, King Herla, a mythical figure identified with Woden.] |