# harlequin

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhɑːlɪkwɪn/ · frequency rank #34,513

## Definitions
1. A pantomime fool, typically dressed in colorful checkered clothes, used as a stock character in commedia dell'arte and other genres.
2. A greenish-chartreuse color.
3. A harlequin duck.
4. Any of various riodinid butterflies of the genera Taxila and Praetaxila.

## Etymology
From earlier Harlicken, from Middle French Harlequin (in Italian Arlecchino, the name of a popular servant character in commedia dell'arte plays), from Old French Harlequin, Halequin, Herlequin, Hellequin, Hierlekin, Hellekin (a demon, malevolent spirit), probably of Germanic origin, connected to the Old English figure of *Herla Cyning (“King Herla”, a mythical figure identified with Woden) or possibly to Old Frisian helle kin, Old English helle cyn, Old Norse heljar kyn (“the kindred of Hell”). Related to Middle English Hurlewain (“a mischievous sprite or goblin”).

## Common misspellings (13)
`ahrlequin`, `halrequin`, `harelquin`, `harleqiun`, `harleqquin`, `harlequinn`, `harlequni`, `harleuqin`, `harllequin`, `harlqeuin`, `harrlequin`, `hharlequin`, `hralequin`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/harlequin