Harlequin duck

Harlequin Har"le*quin (h[aum]r"l[-e]*k[i^]n or -kw[i^]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} (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.), See {harlequin snake} in the vocabulary. [1913 Webster]