Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Motley
Mot′ley
,Adj.
[OE.
mottelee
, motle
; cf. OF. mattelé
clotted, curdled, OF, ciel mattonné
a mottled sky, mate
, maton
, curdled milk, Prov. G. matte
curd. Cf. Mottle
.] 1.
Variegated in color; consisting of different colors; dappled; party-colored;
as, a
. motley
coat3.
Composed of different or various parts; heterogeneously made or mixed up; discordantly composite;
as,
. motley
styleByron.
Mot′ley
,Noun.
1.
A combination of distinct colors; esp., the party-colored cloth, or clothing, worn by the professional fool.
Chaucer.
“Motley ’s the only wear.” Shak.
2.
Hence, a jester, a fool.
[Obs.]
Shak.
Man of motley
, a fool.
[Obs.]
Beau. & Fl.
Webster 1828 Edition
Motley
MOT'LEY
,Adj.
1.
Variegated in color; consisting of different colors; dappled; as a motley coat.2.
Composed of different or various parts, characters or kinds; diversified; as a motley style. And doubts of motley hue.
[This word primarily means spotted; but it may signify also striped.]
Definition 2024
motley
motley
English
Adjective
motley (comparative more motley, superlative most motley)
- Comprising greatly varied elements, to the point of incongruity; heterogeneous.
- 1915, Emerson Hough, The Purchase Price, chapterII:
- Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers, […]. Even such a boat as the Mount Vernon offered a total deck space so cramped as to leave secrecy or privacy well out of the question, even had the motley and democratic assemblage of passengers been disposed to accord either.
- 1915, Emerson Hough, The Purchase Price, chapterII:
- Having many colours; variegated.
Derived terms
Translations
comprising greatly varied elements
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having many colours; variegated
Noun
motley (plural motleys)
- An incongruous mixture.
- A jester's multicoloured clothes.
- (by extension) A jester; a fool.
- 1598, William Shakespeare, As You Like It, III. iii. 71:
- Will you be married, motley?
- 1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet 110:
- Alas, 'tis true, I have gone here and there, / And made myself a motley to the view,
- 1598, William Shakespeare, As You Like It, III. iii. 71: