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ArchivesOrigin of name of stock comic character
I am trying to trace the origin of the name of a stock comic character from the Italian Renaissance's Commedia dell' arte. The character's name was Harlequin. I understand the character's name had its roots in German Medieval Mythology, and that it sounded something like "Herlequin" or "Herlikin," and that it was the name of some kind of goblin or something which rode a horse through Medieval Germany's Black Forest. I would like you to give me the Germanic background on this "Herlikin" (or "Herlequin"), if at all possible.
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The Oxford English Dictionary on the etymology of "harlequin" :
a. Fr. harlequin (1585 in Hatz.-Darm.), arlequin, ad. It. arlecchino.
The Italian word is possibly the same as OFr. Hellequin, Herlequin, Herlekin, Hierlekin, Hielekin, Helquin, Hennequin, a devil celebrated in mediæval legend, esp. in la maisnie Helequin, Harlequini familia (Miège), a company or troop of demon horsemen riding by night. Of this the ultimate origin is possibly Teutonic....
According to American Heritage® Dictionary, Herleking is derived from Old English Herla cyning, King Herla, a mythical figure identified with Woden.a.k.a. Odin a.k.a. Wotan, which may account for the Germanic element
a. Fr. harlequin (1585 in Hatz.-Darm.), arlequin, ad. It. arlecchino.
The Italian word is possibly the same as OFr. Hellequin, Herlequin, Herlekin, Hierlekin, Hielekin, Helquin, Hennequin, a devil celebrated in mediæval legend, esp. in la maisnie Helequin, Harlequini familia (Miège), a company or troop of demon horsemen riding by night. Of this the ultimate origin is possibly Teutonic....
According to American Heritage® Dictionary, Herleking is derived from Old English Herla cyning, King Herla, a mythical figure identified with Woden.a.k.a. Odin a.k.a. Wotan, which may account for the Germanic element
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Not to mention Goethe's poem:
...which sounds suspiciously like "Herleking". The Erlking of Goethe's chilling horror poem, however, is a demon following a father and his child in the night, closing up behind them, and eventually taking the life of the child.
-- Nanaea
...which sounds suspiciously like "Herleking". The Erlking of Goethe's chilling horror poem, however, is a demon following a father and his child in the night, closing up behind them, and eventually taking the life of the child.
-- Nanaea
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