[ 'hα:lɪkwɪn ]
■ noun
1》 ( Harlequin ) a mute character in traditional pantomime, typically masked and dressed in a diamond-patterned costume.
↘ historical a stock comic character in Italian commedia dell'arte.
2》 a small duck of fast-flowing streams around the Arctic and North Pacific, the male having mainly grey-blue plumage with bold white markings. [ Histrionicus histrionicus .]
■ adjective in varied colours; variegated.
Origin
C16: from obs. Fr., from earlier Herlequin , the leader of a legendary troop of demon horsemen.