| Motley | a. [ 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 coat. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Wearing motley or party-colored clothing. See Motley, n., 1. “A motley fool.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Composed of different or various parts; heterogeneously made or mixed up; discordantly composite; as, motley style. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Motley | 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Hence, a jester, a fool. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Man of motley, a fool. [ Obs. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]
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