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