Doily

Doily
A doily

A doily (or doilie) is an ornamental mat, originally the name of a fabric made by Doiley, a 17th-century London draper.[1] Doily earlier meant "genteel, affordable woolens", evidently from the same source.[2]

They are crocheted and sometimes knitted out of cotton or linen thread. Openwork allows the surface of the underlying object to show through. In addition to their decorative function doilies have the practical role of protecting fine-wood furniture from the scratches caused by crockery or decorative objects.

Many patterns for crocheting or knitting doilies were published by thread manufacturers in the first part of the 20th century. The designers were often anonymous. The designs could be circular or oval starting from the center and working outward, reminiscent of the Polar coordinates system. Doilies, as well as other household items, may be made by crocheting rows on a grid pattern using a technique called filet crochet, similar to points on the Cartesian coordinate system. Although it may to some extent interfere with the original use, some doilies have raised designs (rose petals, popcorn, or ruffles) rather than being flat.

Contemporary designers continue to make patterns for modern hand craft enthusiasts.

In more recent times disposable paper doilies are used to decorate plates, placed under the food for ornamentation.

See also

References

  1. ^ Merriam-webster.com "doily." "doily." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009.
  2. ^ Online Etymological DictionaryEtymonline.com
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • doily — 1714, short for doily napkin (1711), from doily thin, woolen fabric; supposedly from Doiley, surname of a 17c. early 18c. dry goods dealer on London s Strand. Doily earlier meant genteel, affordable woolens (1670s), evidently from the same source …   Etymology dictionary

  • Doily — Doi ly, n. [So called from the name of the dealer.] 1. A kind of woolen stuff. [Obs.] Some doily petticoats. Dryden. [1913 Webster] A fool and a doily stuff, would now and then find days of grace, and be worn for variety. Congreve. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • doily — [doi′lē] n. pl. doilies [after a 17th c. London draper named Doily or Doyley] 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 …   English World dictionary

  • doily — meaning ‘a napkin’, is spelt like this, not doiley or doyly. (despite the word s origin: it is named after a 17c London draper called Doiley). The plural is doilies …   Modern English usage

  • doily — ► NOUN (pl. doilies) ▪ a small ornamental mat made of lace or paper. ORIGIN from Doiley or Doyley, a 17th century London draper …   English terms dictionary

  • Doily —    In the late seventeenth century, during the reign of Queen Anne, an ingenious merchant sold a material that appealed to his customers because it was attractive and cheap. The material was used for summertime wear, but another use for the… …   Dictionary of eponyms

  • doily — [17] In the latter part of the 17th century a certain Mr Doily kept a celebrated draper’s shop in the Strand, London, not too far from where the Aldwych now is (‘The famous Doily is still fresh in every one’s Memory, who raised a Fortune by… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • doily — [17] In the latter part of the 17th century a certain Mr Doily kept a celebrated draper’s shop in the Strand, London, not too far from where the Aldwych now is (‘The famous Doily is still fresh in every one’s Memory, who raised a Fortune by… …   Word origins

  • doily — n. a lace; linen; paper doily * * * [ dɔɪlɪ] linen paper doily a lace …   Combinatory dictionary

  • doily — UK [ˈdɔɪlɪ] / US noun [countable] Word forms doily : singular doily plural doilies a round piece of paper or cloth with a pattern of holes that you put on a plate before putting cakes, sandwiches etc on it, or that you put on a table or piece of… …   English dictionary

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