Where does “harlequin” come from?
Harlequin comes from Middle French Harlequin, from Old French Harlequin, from Old English Herla Cyning, a figure in Germanic folklore whose original meaning remains uncertain.
harlequin (English): A pantomime fool, typically dressed in checkered...
Definitions
- A pantomime fool, typically dressed in checkered...
Ancestry of “harlequin”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Harlicken | — |
| 2 | Middle French | Harlequin | — |
| 3 | Old French | Harlequin | — |
| 4 | Old English | Herla Cyning | {{w|King Herla}} |