diaper

[dahy-per, dahy-uh-per]

noun

1. a piece of cloth or other absorbent material folded and worn as underpants by a baby not yet toilet-trained.

2. Also called diaper cloth. a linen or cotton fabric with a woven pattern of small, constantly repeated figures, as diamonds.

3. Also called diaper pattern. such a pattern, originally used in the Middle Ages in weaving silk and gold.

verb (used with object)

1. to put a diaper on.

2. to ornament with a diaperlike pattern.

diaper

/ ˈdaɪəpə /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): nappy. a piece of soft material, esp towelling or a disposable material, wrapped around a baby in order to absorb its excrement

2. 1. a woven pattern on fabric consisting of a small repeating design, esp diamonds

   2. fabric having such a pattern

   3. such a pattern, used as decoration

verb

1. (tr) to decorate with such a pattern

Other Word Forms

• undiapered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of diaper¹

1300–50; Middle English diapre < Anglo-French dia(s)p(r)e < Medieval Latin diasprus made of diaper < Medieval Greek díaspros pure white, equivalent to Greek di- di- ³ ( def. ) + Medieval Greek áspros white

Word History and Origins

Origin of diaper¹

C14: from Old French diaspre, from Medieval Latin diasprus made of diaper, from Medieval Greek diaspros pure white, from _dia- + aspros white, shining

Example Sentences

The samovar had cooled and was silent, and Svetlana had taken Baby Max away for a diaper change.

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The man I’d fallen in love with looked so fragile, lying there with the covers off, wearing a diaper.

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On his way to reporting to his mother and father, Eisman passed the woman who had once changed his diapers.

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In Poland, sheep can and do ride the train, provided they wear diapers.

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The deal would expand Kimberly-Clark’s scope from diapers, Kleenex, and the like into consumer health products, including Tylenol and plastic bandages.

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Related Words

• nappy