From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Harlequin \Har"le*quin\ (h[aum]r"l[-e]*k[i^]n or -kw[i^]n), v.
i.
To play the droll; to make sport by playing ludicrous tricks.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Harlequin \Har"le*quin\ (h[aum]r"l[-e]*k[i^]n or -kw[i^]n), 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 party-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
antenn[ae]. 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 ({Euch[ae]tes 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]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Harlequin \Har"le*quin\, v. t.
To remove or conjure away, as by a harlequin's trick.
[1913 Webster]
And kitten, if the humor hit
Has harlequined away the fit. --M. Green.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
harlequin
n 1: a clown or buffoon (after the Harlequin character in the
commedia dell'arte)
v 1: variegate with spots or marks; "His face was harlequined
with patches"
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