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definitions

doll

[dol]
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR doll ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a small figure representing a baby or other human being, especially for use as a child's toy.
Slang.
  1. a pretty but expressionless or unintelligent woman.
  2. a girl or woman, especially one who is considered attractive.
  3. a boy or man who is considered attractive.
  4. (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.

Verb Phrases

doll up, Informal. to dress in an elegant or ostentatiously stylish manner: She got all dolled up for a trip to the opera.

Origin of doll

First recorded in 1550–60; generic use of Doll
Related formsdoll·ish, doll-like, adjectivedoll·ish·ly, adverbdoll·ish·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for doll up

preen, primp, spiff
British Dictionary definitions for doll up

doll up

verb

(tr, adverb) slang to adorn or dress (oneself or another, esp a child) in a stylish or showy manner

doll

noun

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
Derived Formsdollish, adjectivedollishly, adverbdollishness, noun

Word Origin for doll

C16: probably from Doll, pet name for Dorothy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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."

doll

v.

1867, "to pet, indulge," from doll (n.). Usually with up. Meaning "to dress up" is from 1906, American English. Related: Dolled; dolling.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper