antimacassar

[ an-ti-muh-kas-er ]

/ ˌæn tɪ məˈkæs ər /

noun

a small covering, usually ornamental, placed on the backs and arms of upholstered furniture to prevent wear or soiling; a tidy.

Nearby words

antilogarithm, antilogism, antilogy, antilymphocyte serum, antilysin, antimacassar, antimachus, antimagnetic, antimalarial, antimanic, antimasque

Origin of antimacassar

First recorded in 1850–55; anti- + Macassar (oil)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for antimacassar

The tree grew admirably upon the china plate under the cover of an antimacassar.
The Ivory Child|H. Rider Haggard
So she laid the doll on the sofa, and covered it with an antimacassar, to sleep.
Sons and Lovers|David Herbert Lawrence
In a few moments Delle Josephine appeared, calm and smiling, minus the hat and the antimacassar.
Crowded Out! and Other Sketches|Susie F. Harrison
Not only given it to her, but fastened it in the antimacassar.
Wild Margaret|Geraldine Fleming

I declare to my antimacassar if you took up a straw from the bloody floor and if you said to Bloom: Look at, Bloom.
Ulysses|James Joyce

British Dictionary definitions for antimacassar

antimacassar

/ (ˌæntɪməˈkæsə) /

noun

a cloth covering the back and arms of chairs, etc, to prevent soiling or as decoration

Word Origin for antimacassar

C19: from anti- + Macassar (oil)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012