Motley 84812 225669757 2008-07-14T20:42:29Z Titera 559543 Origin of motley crew {{otheruse}} [[Image:SAND Maurice Masques et bouffons 01.jpg|right|thumb|Harlequin in motley attire, year 1761 by Maurice Sand]] '''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. 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." The word originated in England between the 14th and 17th centuries and referred to a woolen 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. Likewise, motley did not have to be checkered and has been recently thought to be one pattern with different colored threads running through it. Origin of motley crew: Something "motley", in the past, was something whose fur or skin was mottled, of different colors. Further in the past, that something was specifically a weasel, called mustela, "big mouse", in Latin. A "motley" crew, in that view, would have been a weasely bunch of lads, not far from its current sense of riff-raff, or at least raffishness. ==See also== * [[Jester]] * [[Trickster]] ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==External links== * National Guild of Jesters (UK) [http://www.jonathanthejester.co.uk/motley.html Hall of Fame]. Various examples of motley. * [http://www.motley.in Motley.in ] A weekly blog for net surfers (visit for motley content like Ebooks, Video songs with lyrics, News updates, Games, Articles, Career advice and much more......) [[Category:History of clothing (Europe)]] [[Category:Clowning]]