Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - motley

 biographical name John Lothrop 1814-1877 American historian MOTLEY  I. adjective  Etymology: Middle English, perhaps from mot mote, speck  Date: 14th century  1. variegated in color a ~ coat  2. composed of diverse often incongruous elements a ~ crowd  II. noun  Etymology: Middle English, probably from 1~  Date: 14th century  1. a woolen fabric of mixed colors made in England between the 14th and 17th centuries  2. a garment made of ~; especially the characteristic dress of the professional fool  3. jester, fool  4. a mixture especially of incongruous elements