harlequin \har"lequin\ haumr"l-eki^n or -kwi^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
      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
see also:
hell kin harlequin bat scotophilus ornatus harlequin beetle acrocinus longimanus 
harlequin cabbage bug calicoback harlequin caterpillar euchaetes egle harlequin duck 
histrionicus histrionicus harlequin moth magpie moth harlequin opal opal 
harlequin snake harlequin snake