n. & adj.
n. 1 (Harlequin) a a mute character in pantomime, usu. masked and dressed in a diamond-patterned costume. b hist. a stock comic character in Italian commedia dell' arte. 2 (in full harlequin duck) an Icelandic duck, Histrionicus histrionicus, with variegated plumage.
adj. in varied colours; variegated.
[ F f. earlier Herlequin leader of a legendary troup of demon horsemen ]