Motley is the traditional costume of the 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 a fashion motif.
Cognate of medley
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 .
Fabric of mixed colours
The word originated in England between the 14th and 17th centuries and referred to a
fabric of mixed colours.
[Apparel Search Glossary [1] Retrieved on: 15 Jan 2020] It was the characteristic dress of the professional fool. During the
Elizabethan era, 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, 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.
See also
External links
-
National Guild of Jesters (UK) Hall of Fame. Various examples of motley.
