| Harlequin | n. [ F. arlequin, formerly written also harlequin (cf. It, arlecchino), prob. fr. OF. hierlekin, hellequin, goblin, elf, which is prob. of German or Dutch origin; cf. D. hel hell. Cf. Hell, Kin. ] A buffoon, dressed in parti-colored clothes, who plays tricks, often without speaking, to divert the bystanders or an audience; a merry-andrew; originally, a droll rogue of Italian comedy. Percy Smith. [ 1913 Webster ] As dumb harlequin is exhibited in our theaters. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]
Harlequin bat (Zool.), an Indian bat (Scotophilus ornatus), curiously variegated with white spots. --
Harlequin beetle (Zool.), a very large South American beetle (Acrocinus longimanus) having very long legs and antennae. The elytra are curiously marked with red, black, and gray. --
Harlequin cabbage bug. (Zool.) See Calicoback. --
Harlequin caterpillar. (Zool.), the larva of an American bombycid moth (Euchaetes egle) which is covered with black, white, yellow, and orange tufts of hair. --
Harlequin duck (Zool.), a North American duck (Histrionicus histrionicus). The male is dark ash, curiously streaked with white. --
Harlequin moth. (Zool.) See Magpie Moth. --
Harlequin opal. See Opal. --
Harlequin snake (Zool.), See harlequin snake in the vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| harlequin snake | n. any of several venomous New World snakes brilliantly banded in red and black and either yellow or white, especially the eastern coral snake, a small poisonous snake (Micrurus fulvius or Elaps fulvius), ringed with red and black, found in the Southeastern United States. They are widely distributed in Southern and Central America;
Syn. -- coral snake, New World coral snake. [ WordNet 1.5 ] |
