mot
ley
Plural
motleys
1
a multicolored woolen fabric made by weaving threads of different colors, used in 14th–17th century England
- The merchant displayed bolts of motley at the market.
- Peasants and jesters alike wore clothing made from coarse motley.
- The tailor used a piece of old motley for patching a cloak.
- Motley was once a common fabric for working-class garments.
- The museum exhibited samples of medieval motley cloth.
2
a garment made of multicolored fabric, traditionally worn by court jesters or performers
- The jester's motley jingled with tiny bells as he bowed.
- His motley was patched with bright reds and greens.
- The actor donned a faded motley for the festival performance.
- Beneath the laughter, the man in motley hid sharp wit.
- The fool's motley became a symbol of truth disguised as humor.
3
a collection composed of a diverse or heterogeneous assortment of items
- The meeting brought together a motley of artists, engineers, and scholars.
- His bookshelf was a motley of philosophy, pulp fiction, and travel guides.
- The fair attracted a motley of street performers and food vendors.
- The city is a motley of architectural styles from different centuries.
- She inherited a motley of antiques and trinkets from her grandmother.