doily

noun

doi·​ly ˈdȯi-lē How to pronounce doily (audio)
plural doilies
1
: a small napkin
2
: a small often decorative mat

Examples of doily in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The movie, in its mud-on-the-doily way, is amusing enough to get by. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 Dec. 2025 Coffee filters are not just doilies to line the basket. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 15 Oct. 2025 Use table runners, coasters, and doilies or felt pads under decor to catch drips and keep items from sliding around. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 May 2026 This pair captures that sporty-meets-quaint energy, with delicate doily trim, ribbon laces, and a sleek silhouette. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for doily

Word History

Etymology

Doily or Doyley flourished 1711 London draper

First Known Use

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of doily was in 1711

Rhymes for doily

See All Rhymes for doily

Browse Nearby Words

doiled
doily
do in
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Doily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doily. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

doily

noun
doi·​ly ˈdȯi-lē How to pronounce doily (audio)
plural doilies
1
: a small napkin
2
: a small often decorative cloth or paper used to protect the surface of furniture

More from Merriam-Webster on doily

Nglish: Translation of doily for Spanish Speakers

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