doll
UK /dɒl/ · US /dɑl/ noun, verb, proper noun
Also a form of dal
Forms dolls dollz dolling dolled
- noun A small figure resembling a human being that is used as a toy.
- noun (slang) An attractive young woman.
- noun (LGBTQ slang) A transgender woman or transfeminine person, especially one that has a highly sexual and feminine personal style.
- noun (LGBTQ slang) A transgender woman or transfeminine person, in general.
- noun (US, Australia, somewhat dated; Scotland) A term of endearment
- noun (US, slightly dated) A good-natured, cooperative or helpful person. “Won't you be a doll and fetch me a glass of water?”
- noun The smallest or pet pig in a litter.
- noun (rail transport) A short signal post mounted on a bracket mounted on the main signal post, or on a signal gantry.
- verb Synonym of doll up.
- noun A temporary barrier used in horse racing.
- verb (UK, transitive) To place a barrier in front of (a section of the course that is to be omitted from a horse race).
- noun (US, obsolete) Synonym of dollar.
- verb (transitive, obsolete) To warm moderately; to make tepid; to mull.
- proper noun A township and rural village in Sutherland, Highland council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NC8803).
- proper noun A diminutive of the female given name Dorothy.
- proper noun A surname.
Synonyms
darling sweetheart doll up dollar dolly dame wench skirt chick bird
Etymology
From Doll, pet form of the given name Dorothy.
Etymology 1, noun sense 7 was coined and popularized by American writer Jacqueline Susann in 1966 through her book Valley of the Dolls (1966) and the film adaptation Valley of the Dolls (1967).
Probably variant of archaic dool (“boundary marker”).
Clipping of dollar.
Possibly same as dull (whence Middle English doll).
Webster’s 1913
Etymology [A contraction of Dorothy; or less prob. an abbreviation of idol; or cf. OD. dol a whipping top, D. dollen to rave, and E. dull.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “doll”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details