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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
coat
.
2.
Wearing motley or party-colored clothing. See
Motley
,
Noun.
, 1.
“A motley fool.”
Shak.
3.
Composed of different or various parts; heterogeneously made or mixed up; discordantly composite;
as,
motley
style
.
Byron.

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.
[Eng.mote.]
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.]

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