noun: a mute character in traditional pantomime, typically masked and dressed in a diamond-patterned costume.
The oldest versions of the word harlequin - the Middle Dutch hellekijn and the Old French hellequin - clearly refer to a hellish character, a kind of demon. The modern term is more a synonym for a clown.
When capitalized, Harlequin refers to a stock character of the Italian commedia dell’arte and subsequently the pantomime traditions of many nations. Harlequin’s outfit soon became a tight-fitting costume with bright triangles and diamond shapes and a black half-mask, with the character was the principal star of pantomimes known as harlequinades.
The most modern version of the character was created for a Batman: The Animated Series episode in 1992. A female harlequin character was introduced as a one-off sidekick to the Joker, however her unexpected popularity led to her prompt return and subsequent growth as a star in her own right. Today, Harley Quinn (Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel) is a global star of comics and film!
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