doily

doily
doily 1714, short for doily-napkin (1711), from doily "thin, woolen fabric;" supposedly from Doiley, surname of a 17c.-early 18c. dry-goods dealer on London's Strand. Doily earlier meant "genteel, affordable woolens" (1670s), evidently from the same source. The surname is d'Ouilly, from one of several places called Ouilly in Normandy.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Doily — Doi ly, n. [So called from the name of the dealer.] 1. A kind of woolen stuff. [Obs.] Some doily petticoats. Dryden. [1913 Webster] A fool and a doily stuff, would now and then find days of grace, and be worn for variety. Congreve. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • doily — [doi′lē] n. pl. doilies [after a 17th c. London draper named Doily or Doyley] 1. a small napkin 2. a small mat, as of lace or paper, put under a dish, vase, or the like, as a decoration or to protect a surface …   English World dictionary

  • doily — meaning ‘a napkin’, is spelt like this, not doiley or doyly. (despite the word s origin: it is named after a 17c London draper called Doiley). The plural is doilies …   Modern English usage

  • doily — ► NOUN (pl. doilies) ▪ a small ornamental mat made of lace or paper. ORIGIN from Doiley or Doyley, a 17th century London draper …   English terms dictionary

  • Doily — A doily A doily (or doilie) is an ornamental mat, originally the name of a fabric made by Doiley, a 17th century London draper.[1] Doily earlier meant genteel, affordable woolens , evidently from the same source.[2] …   Wikipedia

  • Doily —    In the late seventeenth century, during the reign of Queen Anne, an ingenious merchant sold a material that appealed to his customers because it was attractive and cheap. The material was used for summertime wear, but another use for the… …   Dictionary of eponyms

  • doily — [17] In the latter part of the 17th century a certain Mr Doily kept a celebrated draper’s shop in the Strand, London, not too far from where the Aldwych now is (‘The famous Doily is still fresh in every one’s Memory, who raised a Fortune by… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • doily — [17] In the latter part of the 17th century a certain Mr Doily kept a celebrated draper’s shop in the Strand, London, not too far from where the Aldwych now is (‘The famous Doily is still fresh in every one’s Memory, who raised a Fortune by… …   Word origins

  • doily — n. a lace; linen; paper doily * * * [ dɔɪlɪ] linen paper doily a lace …   Combinatory dictionary

  • doily — UK [ˈdɔɪlɪ] / US noun [countable] Word forms doily : singular doily plural doilies a round piece of paper or cloth with a pattern of holes that you put on a plate before putting cakes, sandwiches etc on it, or that you put on a table or piece of… …   English dictionary

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