Motley is the traditional costume of the court jester and the harlequin (arlecchino) in commedia dell'arte, famously depicted as a patchwork of red, green, and blue diamonds. Originating in England between the 14th and 17th centuries, the word referred to a woollen fabric of mixed colours and is a cognate of medley. During the Elizabethan era, wearing motley placed the fool outside the social hierarchy and dress laws, granting them the unique freedom to speak candidly. Contrary to popular belief, motley was not necessarily checkered; it could simply be a fabric with different coloured threads running through it. Today, the term is used disparagingly to describe a "varied mixture" (as in a motley crew), and the costume occasionally reappears as a fashion motif, while remaining linked to figures like the Shakespearean fool and the trickster.