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

“Now y’all could buy my album. So I could buy Pampers and diapers and all that type of stuff.”

From Los Angeles Times

Rebecca Haro said she was attacked and knocked unconscious while changing her son’s diaper outside her vehicle in front of a sporting goods story in Yucaipa on Thursday evening.

From Los Angeles Times

The boy’s mother, Rebecca Haro, said she was changing her son’s diaper while standing outside her vehicle near a Big 5 store.

From Los Angeles Times

Rebecca Haro said she was changing her son’s diaper on Thursday evening while standing outside her vehicle near a Big 5 store.

From Los Angeles Times

Owen stopped at her mother’s home to change the child’s diaper and then checked in for the appointment at 8:30 a.m., according to Owen’s mother, Vickie Torres.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• nappy