piccadilly
piccadilly Lexical Profile
piccadilly Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British (usually capitalized) A major thoroughfare in the West End of London, England, running from Hyde Park Corner to Piccadilly Circus and renowned for its historic shops, luxury hotels, and upscale landmarks.
"We strolled down Piccadilly to admire the historic bookshops and grand hotel facades."
(historical) A large, stiffly starched collar with scalloped or perforated lace edges, fashionable in 17th-century Europe, or the wire frame used to support such a collar.
"Portraits from the Jacobean era frequently depict courtiers wearing an elaborate lace piccadilly."
• Rhymes for piccadilly
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Dating to the early 17th century as 'piccadill', the word likely derives from the Spanish 'picadillo' (minced meat, from 'picar', meaning 'to prick or pierce'), referring to the perforated or scalloped lace edges of stiff collars; the famous London street took its name from Piccadilly Hall, the mansion of Robert Baker, a tailor who grew wealthy selling these collars.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.