Arlecchino

arlecchino Italian Etymology Borrowed from Middle French frm Harlequin (modern fr Arlequin), from Old French fro Hellequin or fro Herlequin (late 11th c.), a figure of medieval legend who led the fro maisnie Hellequin ("household of Hellequin"), a troop of demon horsemen. Further origin is likely Germanic: Possibly from Old English ang Herla proper noun ang cyning king, a mythical figure associated with the Wild Hunt and the god Woden. Or from a reconstructed Frankish term such as gem-pro *harja- army, host + gem-pro *laik- play, dance, referring to the dance of the dead. The name entered Italian as it Alichino in Dante's Inferno (early 14th c.) before being adapted into the modern it Arlecchino by the actor Tristano Martinelli in the late 16th century for the Commedia dell'arte. Proper noun m it theatre Harlequin character