motley fool

English

Etymology

From motley (“multi-colored cloth; a jester's clothes”) +‎ fool (“a jester”).

Noun

motley fool (plural motley fools)

1. Court jester; jester.
   • c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii]:

     A fool, a fool! I met a fool i’ th’ forest, / A motley fool. A miserable world!