doll

[dol] /dɒl/
noun
1.
a small figure representing a baby or other human being, especially for use as a child's toy.
2.
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).
3.
Informal. a generous or helpful person:
You're a doll for lending me your car.
Verb phrases
4.
doll up, Informal. to dress in an elegant or ostentatiously stylish manner:
She got all dolled up for a trip to the opera.
Origin
1550-60; generic use of Doll
Related forms
dollish, doll-like, adjective
dollishly, adverb
dollishness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for doll up

doll up

verb
1.
(transitive, adverb) (slang) to adorn or dress (oneself or another, esp a child) in a stylish or showy manner

doll

/dɒl/
noun
1.
a small model or dummy of a human being, used as a toy
2.
(slang) a pretty girl or woman of little intelligence: sometimes used as a term of address
Derived Forms
dollish, adjective
dollishly, adverb
dollishness, noun
Word Origin
C16: probably from Doll, pet name for Dorothy
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."

v.

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

Slang definitions & phrases for doll up

doll up

verb phrase

To dress fancily and in one's best clothes; gussy up: This year the girls are dolling up in calico patchworks (1906+)


doll

noun
  1. (also dolly) A conventionally pretty and shapely young woman, esp a curly, blue-eyed blonde, whose function is to elevate the status of a male and to inspire general lust; babe, baby doll, bimbo: If a blonde girl doesn't talk we call her a doll/ the subservient dolly without a thought in her head (1860+)
  2. Any woman, esp an attractive one; babe, chick • Considered offensive by many women (1778+)
  3. A notably decent, pleasant, generous person; living doll: Isn't he a doll? (1950s+)
  4. An attractive boy or young man (1940s+)
  5. (also dolly) An amphetamine or barbiturate drug in pill or capsule form (1960s+ Narcotics)
Related Terms

china doll, living doll


Doll

Related Terms

barbie doll