ETYM Old Eng. mottelee, motle; cf. Old Fren. mattelé clotted, curdled, of, ciel mattonné a mottled sky, mate, maton, curdled milk, Prov. German matte curd. Related to Mottle.
Having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly; SYN. multicolor, culticolour, multicolored, multicoloured, painted, particolored, particoloured, piebald, pied, varicolored, varicoloured.

1. A garment made of motley (especially a court jester's costume).
2. A multicolored woolen fabric woven of mixed threads in 14th to 17th century England.

John Lothrop 1814-1877 American historian

City in Minnesota (USA).

To make motley; color with different colors; SYN. parti-color.