baize

American  

[beyz] / beɪz /

noun

1. a soft, usually green, woolen or cotton fabric resembling felt, used chiefly for the tops of billiard tables.

2. an article of this fabric or of a fabric resembling it.

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verb (used with object)

baized, baizing

1. to line or cover with baize.

baize British  

/ beɪz /

noun

1. a woollen fabric resembling felt, usually green, used mainly for the tops of billiard tables

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verb

1. (tr) to line or cover with such fabric

Etymology

Origin of baize

1570–80; earlier bayes < French baies (noun), Old French ( estoffes fabrics) baies, feminine plural of bai (adj.) bay ⁵

Example Sentences

Twenty years ago, Luca Brecel was himself gracing the same baize of the Snooker Sports club in Maasmechelen municipality, in Flanders, near the Dutch border.

From BBC • May 2, 2023

He stopped showing on catwalks in 2014, but unlike many who have rolled the dice on the baize of London Fashion Week, Mr. Rocha came out of the game independent and successful.

From New York Times • Feb. 18, 2022

Like most sports, women's snooker ground to a halt when the coronavirus pandemic struck but after an 18-month break, England's top competitors are back on the baize.

From BBC • Aug. 10, 2021

Other parts of the baize had readings of 2,300 counts a second.

From The Guardian • Mar. 6, 2016

In the center of the thickly carpeted room, directly beneath an adjustable ceiling lamp, was a large round table covered with green baize.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols