▪ I. harlequinade, n.
(hɑːlɪk(w)ɪˈneɪd)
[a. F. arlequinade (1769 in Hatz.-Darm.), f. h)arlequin: see -ade.]
A kind of pantomime; that part of a pantomime in which the harlequin and clown play the principal parts.
| 1780 T. Davies Mem. Garrick I. x. 129 He formed a kind of harlequinade, very different from that which is seen at the Opéra Comique in Paris, where harlequin and all the characters speak. 1823 Sismondi's Lit. Eur. (1846) I. xv. 439 A specimen of these old harlequinades. 1827 W. S. in Hone Every-day Bk. II. 502 In 1717, the first harlequinade..was performed at the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. 1867 Morn. Star 27 Dec., The harlequinade subsequent to the transformation scene was cleverly supported by Mr. ― (harlequin), Mdlle. ― (columbine), Mr. ― (pantaloon), Miss ― (harlequina), and Mr. ― (clown). |
b. transf. Buffoonery; fantastic procedure.
| 1828 Macaulay Ess., Hallam (1887) 93 No unity of plan, no decent propriety of character and costume, could be found in the wild and monstrous harlequinade [reign of Chas. II]. a 1849 Poe Longfellow, Willis, etc. Wks. 1864 III. 334 Every trick of thought and every harlequinade of phrase. |
c. A piece of fantastic particoloured work.
| 1874 J. T. Micklethwaite Mod. Par. Churches 72 An elaborate harlequinade of stripes and diamonds on a raw blue or red ground, called illumination. |
Hence harlequiˈnadish a., nonce-wd., of the nature of a harlequinade.
| 1859 Sala Tw. round Clock (1861) 417 All is jarring, discordant, tawdry and harlequinadish. |
▪ II. harlequiˈnade, v.
[f. prec. n.: cf. to masquerade.]
intr. To play the harlequin; to act fantastically. Hence harlequiˈnading vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1788 ‘A. Pasquin’ Childr. Thespis, Tom Blanchard, Broad Humour the province of wit is Invading, And his efforts are weaken'd by harlequinading. 1823 New Monthly Mag. VII. 515 The three pirates who..harlequinade it in the air on the banks. 1880 V. Lee Stud. Italy iii. 175 The stream of masks harlequinading along. 1894 Cornh. Mag. Feb. 160 As fantastic as the harlequinading tits. |