Mot"ley (?), a. [OE. mottelee, motle; cf. OF. mattel'e clotted, curdled, OF, ciel mattonn'e 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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.