harlequin opal

3 definitions found

harlequin opal - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Harlequin \Har"le*quin\ (h[aum]r"l[-e]*k[i^]n or -kw[i^]n), n.
     [F. arlequin, formerly written also harlequin (cf. It,
     arlecchino), prob. fr. OF. hierlekin, hellequin, goblin, elf,
     which is prob. of German or Dutch origin; cf. D. hel hell.
     Cf. Hell, Kin.]
     A buffoon, dressed in party-colored clothes, who plays
     tricks, often without speaking, to divert the bystanders or
     an audience; a merry-andrew; originally, a droll rogue of
     Italian comedy. --Percy Smith.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           As dumb harlequin is exhibited in our theaters.
                                                    --Johnson.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Harlequin bat (Zool.), an Indian bat (Scotophilus  ornatus
        ), curiously variegated with white spots.
  
     Harlequin beetle (Zool.), a very large South American
        beetle (Acrocinus longimanus) having very long legs and
        antenn[ae]. The elytra are curiously marked with red,
        black, and gray.
  
     Harlequin cabbage bug. (Zool.) See Calicoback.
  
     Harlequin caterpillar. (Zool.), the larva of an American
        bombycid moth (Euch[ae]tes egle) which is covered with
        black, white, yellow, and orange tufts of hair.
  
     Harlequin duck (Zool.), a North American duck
        (Histrionicus histrionicus). The male is dark ash,
        curiously streaked with white.
  
     Harlequin moth. (Zool.) See Magpie Moth.
  
     Harlequin opal. See Opal.
  
     Harlequin snake (Zool.), See harlequin snake in the
        vocabulary.
        [1913 Webster]

  Opal \O"pal\, n. [L. opalus: cf. Gr. ?, Skr. upala a rock,
     stone, precious stone: cf. F. opale.] (Min.)
     A mineral consisting, like quartz, of silica, but inferior to
     quartz in hardness and specific gravity.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The precious opal presents a peculiar play of colors
           of delicate tints, and is highly esteemed as a gem. One
           kind, with a varied play of color in a reddish ground,
           is called the harlequin opal. The fire opal has
           colors like the red and yellow of flame. Common opal
           has a milky appearance. Menilite is a brown impure
           variety, occurring in concretions at Menilmontant, near
           Paris. Other varieties are cacholong, girasol,
           hyalite, and geyserite.
           [1913 Webster]

harlequin opal - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  harlequin opal
      n 1: a reddish opal with small patches of brilliant color