www.alphadictionary.com

Posted: **Fri Jun 30, 2006 3:26 pm**

har·le·quin (härl-kwn, -kn)
n.
1. Harlequin A conventional buffoon of the commedia dell'arte, traditionally presented in a mask and parti-colored tights.
2. A clown; a buffoon.
adj.
Having a pattern of brightly colored diamond shapes.

[Obsolete French, from Old French Herlequin, Hellequin, a demon, perhaps from Middle English *Herleking, from Old English Herla cyning, King Herla, a mythical figure identified with Woden.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words AntonymsNoun 1. harlequin - a clown or buffoon (after the Harlequin character in the commedia dell'arte)
merry andrew, buffoon, clown - a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior

Do you say Harle (kwin) or kin?
I heard a lady repeatedly say harle-kwin over and over, it drove me nutty.

mark

Posted: **Fri Jun 30, 2006 5:21 pm**

I say kwin.

Posted: **Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:17 pm**

Kwin.
Sorry, Bailey! If we meet, I would be sure to refrain...

Posted: **Fri Jun 30, 2006 7:05 pm**

Kwin here too.

But what do I know? I thought it was MIH-gruh-to-ree.

Brazilian dude

Posted: **Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:54 pm**

Actually I'm not sure. I think "Kin" is my preference but I don't know if I learned it as such or adapted based on spelling.

"Helplessly hoping her harlequin hovers..." --Crosby, Stills & Nash, 1969
hmm, I seem to remember they say "Kin" too...?

Posted: **Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:55 pm**

Kwin here too.

But what do I know? I thought it was MIH-gruh-to-ree.

Brazilian dude

As opposed to MIH-gruh-tree?

Posted: **Sat Jul 01, 2006 2:44 pm**

Nah, it's not MIH-gruh-tree. You're making that up.

Brazilian dude

Posted: **Sat Jul 01, 2006 6:31 pm**

Nah, it's not MIH-gruh-tree. You're making that up.

Brazilian dude

Nah I ain't. I'm thinking of the British penchant for putting -tory into one syllable. They made it up.

The gate turned into a deroga-tree
And his pegleg got woodworm and broke into three
--Ginger Baker, Pressed Rat and Warthog, 1968

Posted: **Sat Jul 01, 2006 6:40 pm**

I say definitely kin. Remember that it comes from the French.

Posted: **Sat Jul 01, 2006 7:37 pm**

Then you should say aRlekê (nasally and stressed on the last syllable).

Brazilian dude

Posted: **Sun Jul 02, 2006 3:02 pm**

More like arleCAn

Posted: **Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:02 am**

O.k.fine, so does anyone know what has happened to Perry? It seems like he has taken leave of us.

Or did I miss something again?

Posted: **Sun Jul 23, 2006 11:08 am**

I say definitely kin. Remember that it comes from the French.

Well, so does "dandelion", but I don't generally say don-duh-LEE-on.

KWIN here.

-- PW

Posted: **Sun Jul 23, 2006 11:12 am**

And so does 70% or so of the English vocabulary!

Brazilian dude

Posted: **Sun Jul 23, 2006 11:18 am**

And so does 70% or so of the English vocabulary!

Brazilian dude

Gosh. Is it that much? Merde, alors.

-- PW