doll
[dol]
- a small figure representing a baby or other human being, especially for use as a child's toy.
- Slang.
- a pretty but expressionless or unintelligent woman.
- a girl or woman, especially one who is considered attractive.
- a boy or man who is considered attractive.
- (sometimes initial capital letter)an affectionate or familiar term of address, as to a child or romantic partner (sometimes offensive when used to strangers, casual acquaintances, subordinates, etc., especially by a male to a female).
- Informal. a generous or helpful person: You're a doll for lending me your car.
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- doll up, Informal. to dress in an elegant or ostentatiously stylish manner: She got all dolled up for a trip to the opera.
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Origin of doll
First recorded in 1550–60; generic use of Doll
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
doll up
- (tr, adverb) slang to adorn or dress (oneself or another, esp a child) in a stylish or showy manner
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doll
- a small model or dummy of a human being, used as a toy
- slang a pretty girl or woman of little intelligence: sometimes used as a term of address
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Word Origin
C16: probably from Doll, pet name for Dorothy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for doll up
doll
n.
1550s, endearing name for a female pet or a mistress; originally a familiar form of fem. proper name Dorothy (q.v.). The -l- for -r- substitution in nicknames is common in English: cf. Hal for Harold, Moll for Mary, Sally for Sarah, etc. Attested from 1640s as colloquial for "slattern;" sense of "child's toy baby" is c.1700. Transferred back to living beings 1778 in sense of "pretty, silly woman."
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doll
v.
1867, "to pet, indulge," from doll (n.). Usually with up. Meaning "to dress up" is from 1906, American English. Related: Dolled; dolling.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper