different between patchwork vs motley

English

Etymology

From patch +? work

Noun

patchwork (countable and uncountable, plural patchworks)

1. A work, such as a blanket, composed of many different colors and shapes, sewn together to make an interesting whole.
2. (figuratively) Any kind of creation that utilizes many different aspects to create one whole piece.

   Bill took all of his poetry and put it together in a folder. It made up a patchwork of his life.

3. (derogatory) A state of regulations whose constituents have an opaque scope of application because of their questionable delimitation with regard to each other.

Related terms

Translations

Verb

patchwork (third-person singular simple present patchworks, present participle patchworking, simple past and past participle patchworked)

1. To create a patchwork from pieces of fabric.
2. To assemble from a variety of sources; to cobble together.

References

• “patchwork”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English patchwork.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pat.?w??k/

Noun

patchwork m (plural patchworks)

1. patchwork

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English patchwork.

Noun

patchwork m (invariable)

1. patchwork (all senses)

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from English patchwork.

Noun

patchwork m (plural patchworks)

1. patchwork

English

Etymology

From Middle English motle, from Anglo-Norman motteley (“parti-colored”), late 14th c., from Old English mot (“speck”), cognate with mote.

Equivalent to mottle +? -y

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?tli/

Adjective

motley (comparative more motley or motlier, superlative most motley or motliest)

1. Comprising greatly varied elements, to the point of incongruity.

   Synonyms: heterogeneous, diverse, manifold; see also Thesaurus:heterogeneous
2. Having many colours; variegated.

   Synonyms: colorful, prismatic, variegated; see also Thesaurus:multicolored

Derived terms

• motley crew

Translations

Noun

motley (plural motleys)

1. An incongruous mixture.
2. A jester's multicoloured clothes.
3. (by extension) A jester; a fool.

Translations

Anagrams

• etymol.