harlequin English · revision 2193

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhɑːlɪkwɪn/ ''(UK)''; /ˈhɑɹlɪkwɪn/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|harlequin]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) related to [[it|arlecchino]],^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) a variant of Old French ''Herlequin, Hellequin'', the name of a demon who led a troop of spectral horsemen through the night air.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) This name may come from Middle English ''*Herle king'', Old English ''Herla cyning'' “King Herla”, a mythical figure sometimes identified with Woden.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) Etymonline doubts this theory, since the earliest Harlequin was a bumbling servant, not a magical figure, and allows an Italian origin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A stock character of Italian comedy, later of French comedy and English pantomime (1590).^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) Barnhart's earliest form is ''Harlicken''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Harlequin was one of the comic servants of the commedia dell'arte, usually masked and dressed in diamond-patterned tights.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)^(AHD) In English pantomime he became a mute character, invisible to the clown.^(OED 1989) The name passed to any buffoon (1878),^(OED 1989) and from the costume came the adjective “particoloured” (1779),^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) as well as names for brightly patterned animals such as the harlequin duck.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1590 – the comic character.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1737 – verb, to colour in contrasting colours.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1772 – the harlequin duck.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1779 – adjective, particoloured, ludicrous.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1878 – a buffoon in general.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(often capitalized)'' A comic character of the commedia dell'arte and pantomime, masked and dressed in multicoloured diamond-patterned tights.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A clown or buffoon.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A variegated pattern, as of a fabric or an animal's coat.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having a pattern of brightly coloured diamond shapes; fancifully varied in colour.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[harlequinism]]

+ * [[harlequinade]]

+ * [[harlequinesque]]

+ * [[harlequin duck]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}