doily Hear it!

doily Definition

doily (do̵i′lē)

noun pl. -·lies

  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

Etymology: after a 17th-c. London draper named Doily or Doyley

doily Usage Examples

Converse of object

use: Valentines Early valentines were notes written on paper or paper cut-outs that resemble the paper doilies used to create valentine cards today.

Noun used with modifier

  • paper: To sum up, this report has more holes than a paper doily.
  • lace: Behind his shoulder is a sewing machine, carefully covered with a spotless lace doily.
  • crochet: Crochet doilies that I had placed on furniture and a stack of paperwork on the table was scattered on the floor.

Browse dictionary entries near doily

  1. ‹ Dohnányi
  2. ‹ Doha Round
  3. ‹ Doha
  4. ‹ dogy
  5. ‹ dogwood
  6. ‹ dogwatch
  7. ‹ dogtrot
  8. ‹ dogtooth violet
  9. ‹ dogtooth
  10. ‹ dogsbody
  1. doing ›
  2. doing business as ›
  3. doings ›
  4. doit ›
  5. dojo ›
  6. dolabriform ›
  7. Dolby ›
  8. dolce ›
  9. dolce far niente ›
  10. dolce vita ›