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Harlequin in motley attire, year 1671, by Maurice Sand

Motley is the traditional costume of the court jester, the motley fool, or the arlecchino character in commedia dell'arte. The harlequin wears a patchwork of red, green and blue diamonds that is still^{[citation needed]} a fashion motif.

The word motley is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as a cognate of medley, although the unrelated mottled has also contributed to the meaning. The word is most commonly used as an adjective or noun, but is also seen as a verb and adverb. When used as a noun, it can mean "a varied mixture". As an adjective, it is generally disparaging: a motley collection is an uninspiring pile of stuff, as in the cliché motley crew.

The word originated in England between the 14th and 17th centuries and referred to a woollen fabric of mixed colours.^[1] It was the characteristic dress of the professional fool. During the reign of Elizabeth I, motley served the important purpose of keeping the fool outside the social hierarchy and therefore not subject to class distinction. Since the fool was outside the dress laws, the fool was able to speak more freely.

Likewise, motley did not have to be checkered and has been recently thought to be one pattern with different coloured threads running through it.

Motley is the only wear.
— Shakespeare, As You Like It, ii. 7

References

^ Apparel Search Glossary [1] Retrieved on: 15 Jan 2020

External links

National Guild of Jesters (UK) Hall of Fame. Various examples of motley.

[1] Apparel Search Glossary [1] Retrieved on: 15 Jan 2020

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|Traditional costume of a court jester}}
 {{Other uses}}
+{{Multiple issues|
-[[Image:SAND Maurice Masques et bouffons 01.jpg|right|thumb|[[Harlequin]] in motley attire, year 1761 by Maurice Sand]]
+{{ref improve|date=April 2015}}
-'''Motley''' refers to the traditional [[costume]] of the [[court jester]], or the [[Arlecchino|harlequin]] character in ''[[commedia dell'arte]]''.  The latter wears a patchwork of red, green and blue diamonds that is still a [[fashion]] motif.
+{{notability|date=August 2022}}
+}}
+[[Image:SAND Maurice Masques et bouffons 01.jpg|right|thumb|[[Harlequin]] in motley attire, year 1671, by [[Maurice Sand]] ]]
+'''Motley''' is the traditional [[costume]] of the [[Jester|court jester]], the motley fool, or the [[Harlequin|arlecchino]] character in ''[[commedia dell'arte]]''. The [[harlequin]] wears a patchwork of red, green and blue diamonds that is still{{cn|date=April 2017}} a [[fashion]] motif.
-The word ''motley'' is described in the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] as a [[cognate]] with ''medley'', although the unrelated ''mottled'' has also contributed to the meaning.  The word is most commonly used as an [[adjective]] or [[noun]], but is also seen as a [[verb]] and [[adverb]].  When used as a noun, it can mean "a varied mixture." As an adjective, it is generally disparaging &mdash; a ''motley collection'' is an uninspiring pile of stuff, as in the cliche [[motley crew]].
+The word ''motley'' is described in the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] as a [[cognate]] of ''medley'', although the unrelated ''mottled'' has also contributed to the meaning.  The word is most commonly used as an [[adjective]] or [[noun]], but is also seen as a [[verb]] and [[adverb]].  When used as a noun, it can mean "a varied mixture". As an adjective, it is generally disparaging: a ''motley collection'' is an uninspiring pile of stuff, as in the cliché [[wikt:motley crew|motley crew]].
-The word originated in England between the 14th and 17th centuries and referred to a [[wool]]en fabric of mixed colors.<ref>Apparel Search Glossary [http://www.apparelsearch.com/glossary_m_1.htm "Motley."] Retrieved on: December 4, 2007.</ref>  It was the characteristic dress of the professional fool.  During the reign of [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]], motley served the important purpose of keeping the fool outside the social hierarchy and therefore not subject to class distinction.  Since the fool was outside the dress laws ([[sumptuary law]]), the fool was able to speak more freely.
+The word originated in England between the 14th and 17th centuries and referred to a [[wool]]len fabric of mixed colours.<ref>Apparel Search Glossary [https://www.apparelsearch.com/glossary_m_3.htm] Retrieved on: 15 Jan 2020</ref> It was the characteristic dress of the professional fool. During the reign of [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]], motley served the important purpose of keeping the fool outside the social hierarchy and therefore not subject to class distinction. Since the fool was outside the  [[sumptuary law|dress laws]], the fool was able to speak more freely.
-Likewise, motley did not have to be checkered and has been recently thought to be one pattern with different colored threads running through it.
+Likewise, motley did not have to be checkered and has been recently thought to be one pattern with different coloured threads running through it.
 {{quote|Motley is the only wear.|Shakespeare|[[As You Like It]], ii. 7}}
 ==See also==
+* [[Clown]]
+* [[Harlequin]]
 * [[Jester]]
-* [[Shakespearian fool]]
+* [[Shakespearean fool]]
 * [[Trickster]]
-* [[Crumpet]]
-* [[Debbie McGee]]
-* [[Gerrit Ybema]]
-* [[Formica]]
-* [[Soave]]
-* [[Jolly Ranchers]]
-* [[YWCA]]
-* [[Grevel Lindop]]
-* [[Dawley]]
-* [[Dale Winton]]
-* [[Mike Nolan]]
-* [[Bernie Nolan]]
-* [[Robert Burns]]
-* [[Bob Wilson]]
-* [[Wilson Phillips]]
-* [[Philip II]]
-* [[Glenn Hoddle]]
-* [[World War 2]]
-* [[Smethwick]]
-* [[Les Binks]]
-* [[Midsomer Murders]]
-* [[Vera Lomax]]
-* [[Woody Guthrie]]
-==Notes==
+==References==
 {{Reflist}}
@@ Line 45: / Line 30: @@
 * National Guild of Jesters (UK) [http://www.jonathanthejester.org.uk/motley.html Hall of Fame]. Various examples of motley.
-[[Category:History of clothing (Europe)]]
+[[Category:History of clothing (Western fashion)]]
 [[Category:Clowning]]