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Harlequin vs Masquerade - What's the difference?

harlequin | masquerade |

In lang=en terms the difference between harlequin and masquerade

is that harlequin is to make sport by playing ludicrous tricks while masquerade is to conceal with masks; to disguise.

As nouns the difference between harlequin and masquerade

is that harlequin is a pantomime fool, typically dressed in checkered clothes while masquerade is a party or assembly of people wearing masks, and amusing themselves with dancing, conversation, or other diversions.

As verbs the difference between harlequin and masquerade

is that harlequin is to remove or conjure away, as if by a harlequin's trick while masquerade is to assemble in masks; to take part in a masquerade.

As an adjective harlequin

is brightly coloured, especially in a pattern like that of a harlequin clown's clothes.

harlequin

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • a pantomime fool, typically dressed in checkered clothes
  • * 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
  • ... were certainly the worst and dullest company into which an audience was ever introduced; and (which was a secret known to few) were actually intended so to be, in order to contrast the comic part of the entertainment, and to display the tricks of harlequin to the better advantage.
  • A yellowish-green color.
  • Usage notes

    * Because of its origin in the name of an Italian theatrical character, English Harlequin is often used as a proper name.

    Adjective

    (head)
  • brightly coloured, especially in a pattern like that of a harlequin clown's clothes
  • Of a yellowish-green
  • Derived terms

    * harlequinade * harlequin bat * harlequin beetle * harlequin cabbage bug * harlequin caterpillar * harlequin duck * harlequin moth * harlequin opal * harlequin snake

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To remove or conjure away, as if by a harlequin's trick.
  • * M. Green
  • And kitten, if the humour hit / Has harlequined away the fit.
  • To make sport by playing ludicrous tricks.
  • masquerade

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A party or assembly of people wearing masks, and amusing themselves with dancing, conversation, or other diversions.
  • In courtly balls and midnight masquerades -
  • (obsolete) A dramatic performance by actors in masks; a mask. See “mask”
  • Acting or living under false pretenses; concealment of something by a false or unreal show; pretentious show; disguise.
  • I was invited to the masquerade at their home.
    That masquerade of misrepresentation which invariably accompanied the political eloquence of Rome -
  • (archaic) A Spanish entertainment in which squadrons of horses charge at each other, the riders fighting with bucklers and canes.
  • See also

    * costume party

    Verb

  • To assemble in masks; to take part in a masquerade.
  • I'm going to masquerade as the wikipede. What are you going to dress up as?
  • To frolic or disport in disguise; to make a pretentious show of being what one is not.
  • He masqueraded as my friend until the truth finally came out.
    A freak took an ass in the head, and he goes into the woods, masquerading up and down in a lion's skin -
  • To conceal with masks; to disguise.
  • To masquerade vice - Killingbeck