<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>A comic character in commedia dell'arte and the harlequinade, usually masked, dressed in multicolored, diamond-patterned tights, and carrying a wooden sword or magic wand.</li><li>A buffoon.</li><li>Any of various small snakes having bright diamond-pattern scales.</li></ul><p><strong>Adjective</strong></p><ul><li>Fancifully varied in color, decoration, etc.: harlequin pants.</li><li>Resembling a harlequin's mask: harlequin glasses.</li></ul>