Mot"ley (?), a. [OE. mottelee, motle; cf. OF. mattel'e clotted, curdled, OF, ciel mattonn'e 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 coat.

2.

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

"A motley fool."

Shak.

3.

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

Byron.

 

© Webster 1913.


Mot"ley, n.

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 1913.