MOTLEY • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Motley

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/mˈɑtli/ Listen

adjective

Motley adj. (compar. motlier; superl. motliest)

Variegated in color; consisting of different colors; dappled; party-colored; as, a motley coat.

Wearing motley or party-colored clothing. See Motley, n., 1. "A motley fool."

Composed of different or various parts; heterogeneously made or mixed up; discordantly composite; as, motley style.

noun

Motley n.

A combination of distinct colors; esp., the party-colored cloth, or clothing, worn by the professional fool. "Motley 's the only wear."

Hence, a jester, a fool. (Obs.)

Man of motley, a fool. (Obs.)

See images of 'Motley'

Etymology of 'Motley'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Motley" Quotes from Famous Books

... establishment what an enormous quantity of roots he had been making during the years he had been planted there." Before announcing his intention, he came early one morning, with his friend Lothrop Motley, to inspect our house, which was similar to the one he thought of buying. I did not know his intention at the time, but I was delighted with his enthusiasm for the view over Charles River Bay, which in those days was ...

— Authors and Friends • Annie Fields

... LUN appear'd, with matchless art and whim, He gave the power of speech to every limb; Tho' mask'd and mute, conveyed his quick intent, And told in frolic gestures what he meant: But now the motley coat and sword of wood Require a tongue to ...

— Curiosities of Literature, Vol. II (of 3) - Edited, With Memoir And Notes, By His Son, The Earl Of Beaconsfield • Isaac D'Israeli

... The corridor was empty, silent in the dim, diffused light. The motley passengers were all sound asleep; no one had been disturbed by the fracas. Earthmen, green-faced Martians, fish-scaled Venusians, spatulate Ganymedans and homeward-bound Callistans, all reposing through the sleep-period in anticipation of an ...

— Pirates of the Gorm • Nat Schachner

... set several tables, around which were seated a motley company, all of them with glasses of beer or ...

— Adrift in New York - Tom and Florence Braving the World • Horatio Alger

... grotesque, misshapen figure in gaudy motley—an ungovernable rage possessed him. What was to become of them now? Without the Count of Aquila's stern support the garrison would have forced her to capitulate a week ago. What would betide, now that the restraint of his formidable command ...

— Love-at-Arms • Raphael Sabatini

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