mot·ley / ˈmätlē/ • adj. (mot·li·er, mot·li·est) incongruously varied in appearance or character; disparate: a motley crew of discontents and zealots.• n. 1. [usu. in sing.] an incongruous mixture: a motley of interacting interest groups.2. hist. the particolored costume of a jester: life-size mannequins in full motley.

motley diversified in colour XIV; sb. † varicoloured fabric XIV; particoloured dress of a jester XVI. Late ME. mottelay, -ley, perh. — AN. *motelé, f. MOTE (but the formation remains obscure).