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doily

doily

16 7.2
A small pretty mat made of lace or cloth placed under a plate to protect a table
  • noun
  • /ˈdɔɪli/
translation icon : mantelito
  • She placed the vase on a colorful doily to protect the table from scratches.
  • lace doilies
  • paper doily
  • a white doily

Grandma's doilies, Dad's suit jacket, Mom's jewelry, that damn Irish sweater.

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Examples

  • "Jada smiled at Uncle Mac's balding head as she set the little bottle on a doily on the dresser."

    Fiction book (1993)
  • For example, in Japanese taxi cabs, sparkling white cotton doilies decorate the drivers' and passengers' seat backs.

    Academic text (1998)
  • l mean, this is my doily collection.

  • And I'm sure that I have a doily out of place somewhere.

  • On top was a doily and a candy dish.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Her living room was stuffed with big antique furniture, and old paintings, and more doilies than I could count.

  • There was a small table, polished brightly, with a lace doily on top.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Sandra settled her head back against a crocheted doily and listened to her aunt chatter.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Each Saturday, my mother slipped a starched and ironed snowy-white doily underneath it.

    Academic text (1997)
  • There were lace doilies on the tabletops and antimacassars on the backs of the armchairs.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

doyley
vsdoily
  • Archaic
9.9

A small cloth you put under a dish to protect a table and make it look nice

has identical meaning but appears as an alternative spelling
doyly
vsdoily
  • Archaic
9.9

A small decorative cloth placed under a dish or bowl to protect the surface below

has identical meaning but appears as an alternative spelling

How Big

tablecloth
47 1.0
placemat
12 1.6
doily
16 7.2
coaster
84 1.0

Surface Forms

doily singular
doilies plural

Etymology

Doily comes from a shop owner in the 1600s named Doiley, who sold small, fine 'napkins', and people began to call these little cloths by his name. So today a doily is a small decorative mat you put under a plate or teapot to protect the table.