Definition of Harlequin
Most English dictionaries define harlequin as a buffoon or a jester. This could have originated from the Italian drama contained in the popular the Commedia dell’Arte or Comedy of Humors. Harlequin is the most popular character in it. In the story, he plays as the joyful comic servant of a rich man. He is a rather slow thinking helper, but he has a highly agile body. And because of that, he has the ability to disguise himself and become anybody. In the story, he posed to be a doctor and while at it, he had prescribed outrageous treatments to his patients, which if heeded could definitely be fatal for them.
It is said that the name Harlequin is derived from the writings of Dante Alighieri, more particularly in the story entitled Dante’s Inferno. He had named one of the devil characters in his story as Alichino. Alichino is the Italian translation of the name Harlequin.
But there are also research connecting the name Harlequin to Harlay. Harlay is an English gentleman who served in the court of Henry III. Story has it that he had protected an Italian actor in one of the court’s deliberations.
The character Harlequin is much remembered for his costume. In the play, Harlequin wears a variegated pattern of textile, usually in the shape of a diamond, for his clothing. His garments are a combination of different patches placed on a plain colored background of a contrasting color. His shirt always matches his thighs, still following the same pattern. He commonly wears a mask and is always carrying a magic wand or a wooden sword.
Harlequin does not only fully qualify to be a jester merely because of his actions but also because of his overall appearance. And soon enough, the name Harlequin was adapted to describe anything that is fancifully colored, usually a decoration or an outfit containing varied and contrasting shades and colors. And even Harlequin’s mask had created quite a following. There have been fashion references to harlequin glasses and harlequin pants over the years.
But aside from this most common definition of Harlequin, there are also others that are entirely different and not in any way related to these descriptions. In snakes though, there is such species such as a harlequin snake, which is relatively small in size but has the same diamond patterned scales. Harlequin is also given as a name of a color in a particular shade of green. This is the most popular color used and worn by jesters in the medieval times.
