Mot"ley (?), a. [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, n., 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, n. 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.
