1. [n]  a clown or buffoon (after the Harlequin character in the commedia dell'arte)
2. [v]  variegate with spots or marks; "His face was harlequined with patches"

Harlequin
Harlequin

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1. \Har"le*quin\, 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.
         As dumb harlequin is exhibited in our theaters.
                                                  --Johnson.
   {Harlequin bat} (Zo["o]l.), an Indian bat ({Scotophilus
      ornatus}), curiously variegated with white spots.
   {Harlequin beetle} (Zo["o]l.), 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}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Calicoback}.
   {Harlequin caterpillar}. (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), a North American duck
      ({Histrionicus histrionicus}). The male is dark ash,
      curiously streaked with white.
   {Harlequin moth}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Magpie Moth}.
   {Harlequin opal}. See {Opal}.
   {Harlequin snake} (Zo["o]l.), a small, poisonous snake
      ({Elaps fulvius}), ringed with red and black, found in the
      Southern United States.
   

2. \Har"le*quin\, n. i.
   To play the droll; to make sport by playing ludicrous tricks.
   

3. \Har"le*quin\, v. t.
   Toremove or conjure away, as by a harlequin's trick.
         And kitten,if the humor hit Has harlequined away the
         fit.                                     --M. Green.