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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.


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.


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

"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

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

"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

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)

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

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.

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Vocabulary lists containing paisley

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Officers also attended a number of smaller, but peaceful demonstrations on Tuesday in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Perth, Ayr and Paisley, and no arrests were made.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

"He wasn't the biggest, but he had the heart of a lion," added the ex-Buddies boss, who led the Paisley club to their 2013 League Cup triumph.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Within minutes of the gates opening in Paisley, McGinn was sitting front row to see his big brother warm up.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Officers also attended a number of smaller, but peaceful demonstrations in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Perth, Ayr and Paisley, and no arrests were made.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

Once, I saw Arletta Paisley make a chef’s apron on a show geared toward summer picnics and grilling.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

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