doily
/ˈdɔɪli
/noun (plural doilies)
A small ornamental mat made of lace or paper with a lace pattern, put on a plate under cakes or other sweet food.In the centre would be the three tiered cake stand with doilies on each plate and small sandwiches made of very thin bread on the bottom, scones in the middle, and little cakes on the top....
- For my first course, I would be solemnly presented with a glass tumbler of tomato juice, sitting on a paper doily, in the middle of a china plate.
- She couldn't have been further off beam if she'd turned the answer sheet into a paper doily and sung popular songs through her nose.
Origin
Late 17th century: from Doiley or Doyley, the name of a 17th-century London draper. The word originally denoted a woollen material used for summer wear, said to have been introduced by this draper. The current sense (originally doily napkin) dates from the early 18th century.
This ornamental mat made either of lace or of paper with a lace pattern, is from Doiley or Doyley, the name of a 17th-century London draper. It was originally a term for a woollen material used for summer wear, said to have been introduced by this draper. The current sense was originally part of the phrase doily napkin and dates from the early 18th century.
Rhymes
- all standing
- all-star
- all-star break
- all-star game
- all-star team
- all-state
- all stater
- Allston, Washington
- all-suite
- all's well that ends well
- all-talk
- all-terrain
- all-terrain bike
- all-terrain cycle
- all-terrain vehicle
- all that glitters is not gold
- all that ——
- all the best
- all the go
- all there
- all the same
- all the time
- all the way
- all (the way) down (or along) the line
- (all) the world over