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Definition of doily

doily

/ˈdɔɪ.li/
doi · ly
Plural:doilies
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doily Lexical Profile

doily Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small, ornamental mat, typically made of lace, crochet, linen, or pierced paper, used to protect furniture surfaces or placed under cakes and dishes.

Example

"She arranged the freshly baked scones on a silver platter lined with a delicate paper doily."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for doily

• Rhymes for doily

• Nearby Words

dogwood
doh
doha
doily
doings
dojo
doldrums

Word Origin & Etymology

Named after a late 17th-century London draper surname Doyley or Doiley, who popularized a lightweight woolen fabric described by John Dryden as 'both cheap and genteel' before the word shifted to refer to small ornamental table mats.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Doily. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/doily
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