doll
pronunciation
How to pronounce doll in British English:
UK [dɒl]
How to pronounce doll in American English:
US [dɑːl]
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- Noun:
- a small replica of a person; used as a toy
- informal terms for a (young) woman
Word Origin
- doll
- doll: [16] Doll comes from the name Dorothy: the changing of r to l in personal names is a common English phenomenon of long standing, from Shakespeare’s Prince Hal (for Harry) to the currently familiar Del and Tel (for Derek and Terry). The word was originally applied to a man’s mistress (much like moll, which came from Mary), but in the 18th century it came to be applied to a ‘toy baby’. The pet form dolly dates from the 17th century.
- doll (n.)
- 1550s, endearing name for a female pet or a mistress; originally a familiar form of fem. proper name Dorothy (q.v.). The -l- for -r- substitution in nicknames is common in English: compare Hal for Harold, Moll for Mary, Sally for Sarah, etc. Attested from 1640s as colloquial for "slattern;" sense of "child's toy baby" is c. 1700. Transferred back to living beings 1778 in sense of "pretty, silly woman."
- doll (v.)
- 1867, "to pet, indulge," from doll (n.). Usually with up. Meaning "to dress up" is from 1906, American English. Related: Dolled; dolling.
Example
- 1. A young girl pretending to change a doll 's nappy .
- 2. Seen from above , they resembled rooms in a doll house .
- 3. She was just what ms handler wanted for a blockbuster new doll .
- 4. It seems like this doll inspires many designers for creating interesting space-saving furniture .
- 5. She also engaged in a number of hobbies , including basket weaving and doll making .