motley的词源

英文词源

motley (adj.)

late 14c., "parti-colored" (originally of fabric), from Anglo-French motteley, probably from Old English mot "speck" (see mote). But Klein's sources say probably from Gaulish. "Diversified in color," especially of a fool's dress. Hence, allusively, "a fool" (1600). As a noun meaning "cloth of mixed color" from late 14c.

中文词源

motley：混杂的，杂色的

缩写自盎格鲁法语motteley,混杂的，可能来自mote,尘埃，微粒。即像尘埃一样的，引申词义混杂的，杂色的。

该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：motley 词源，motley 含义。