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

Its green baize surface is all but obscured by papers and manuscripts – even, sometimes, a folder or two containing fragments of ancient papyrus.

From The Guardian • Jan. 9, 2020

He was tall and beautiful and wore things like capes and bottle-green suits made from the baize that covers billiard tables.

From New York Times • Jul. 12, 2016

This is a day sale, so comparatively small, and in the low light paintings blaze from the black baize walls.

From Salon • Jul. 14, 2013

He set it down carefully on the baize cloth.

From "1984" by George Orwell