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• paisley
  paisley

  noun

  a soft woolen fabric woven with a pattern of colorful and minutely detailed figures.
• Paisley
  Paisley

  noun

  a city in the Strathclyde region, in SW Scotland, W of Glasgow: thread factories.

paisley

¹ American  

[peyz-lee] / ˈpeɪz li /

Or Paisley

noun

• paisleys
  plural

1. a soft woolen fabric woven with a pattern of colorful and minutely detailed figures.

2. a shawl, scarf, tie, or other article made of this fabric.

3. a silk print simulating this fabric and weave.

4. Also called paisley print.  a pattern resembling the design or figure on this fabric or material.

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adjective

1. made of paisley.

   a paisley shawl.

2. having the pattern of a paisley.

Paisley ² American  

[peyz-lee] / ˈpeɪz li /

noun

1. a city in the Strathclyde region, in SW Scotland, W of Glasgow: thread factories.

2. paisley.

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paisley ¹ British  

/ ˈpeɪzlɪ /

noun

1. a pattern of small curving shapes with intricate detailing, usually printed in bright colours

2. a soft fine wool fabric traditionally printed with this pattern

3. a garment made of this fabric, esp a shawl popular in the late 19th century

4. (modifier) of or decorated with this pattern

   a paisley scarf

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Paisley ² British  

/ ˈpeɪzlɪ /

noun

1. Bob. 1919–96, English footballer and manager: played for Liverpool (1939–54); under his management (1974–83) Liverpool won six English titles and the European Cup three times (1977, 1978, 1981)

2. Ian ( Richard Kyle ) Baron. born 1926, Northern Ireland politician and Presbyterian minister; cofounder (1972) and leader of the Ulster Democratic Unionist Party, First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2007 to 2008

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Paisley ³ British  

/ ˈpeɪzlɪ /

noun

1. an industrial town in SW Scotland, the administrative centre of Renfrewshire: one of the world's chief centres for the manufacture of thread, linen, and gauze in the 19th century. Pop: 74 170 (2001)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• paisleys
  plural

Etymology

Origin of paisley

First recorded in 1825–35; named after Paisley

Explanation

If your favorite scarf is printed with a pattern consisting of shapes that look like drops of water, you are a fan of paisley and its swirly curves and colors. This Scottish toponym, or place name, (from the town of Paisley, in Renfrewshire) denotes a fabric design that was massively manufactured there in the 19th century. A paisley design itself is Middle Eastern in origin though, having traveled to Europe in the colonial period and become so popular that import could not meet demand.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

paisley Paisley paisleys

He leans slightly toward his longtime comedy partner, who provides a colorful counterpoint in a quilted zip-front jacket covered in a riot of paisley patterns.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2025

In “Blue Velvet,” Lynch created an eerie moment of romance and nostalgia in an otherwise disturbing scene as actor Dean Stockwell, in paisley tuxedo jacket, lip-syncs Orbison’s 1963 hit “In Dreams.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2025

Further investigation uncovered a full skeleton with a faded, paisley dress and pointed heels.

From New York Times ● May 16, 2024

One minute, Ben-Adir would be prancing around to I'm Just Ken, the next he'd be hunched over in his paisley shirt, studying the cadences of Redemption Song.

From BBC ● Jan. 25, 2024

Just above the pocket handkerchief, a paisley foulard.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

The Bangles came up through L.A.’s ’60s-steeped Paisley Underground scene and found stardom after the addition of Michael Steele with “Manic Monday,” a sparkling pop-rock gem gifted to the band by Prince.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

A former minister in the Tony Blair and Gordon Brown governments, he was first elected to represent Paisley and Renfrewshire South in 1997.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

Rafferty was born into a working-class family in Paisley, Renfrewshire.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

Paisley said the woman did not want to make a formal complaint, but said he told Poots.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026

“Feels pretty good, doesn’t it?” said Jerome Paisley.

From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar

One particularly vibrant example from the Caucasus has a pattern of stylized, almost hexagonal paisleys in an array of colors.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 28, 2023

When Landau appeared on the The Pinche Gringo Show!, he sported what he called an “Austin Powers jacket” complete with green paisleys, joking that he needed to be “hip” for the audience.

From Slate ● Jul. 29, 2020

He excitedly pointed out a rug whose pattern had paisleys curled inside larger paisleys: “Pregnant paisley!”

From New York Times ● Apr. 22, 2018

The theatre had the grandeur of a cathedral: blood-red velvet curtains framed the stage; golden ceilings, patterned with blue-and-purple paisleys, soared over vaudeville-era balconies and plush seats.

From The New Yorker ● Jan. 8, 2017

I held up a calf-length black dress with pink paisleys.

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green