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diaper
dia·per / ˈdī(ə)pər/ • n. 1. a piece of absorbent material wrapped around a baby's bottom and between its legs to absorb and retain urine and feces. 2. a linen or cotton fabric woven in a repeating pattern of small diamonds. ∎ a repeating geometric or floral pattern used to decorate a surface. • v. [tr.] put a diaper on (a baby). ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French diapre, from medieval Latin diasprum, from medieval Greek diaspros (adjective), from dia ‘across’ + aspros ‘white.’ The term seems originally to have denoted a costly fabric, but after the 15th cent. it was used as in noun sense 2; babies' diapers were originally made from pieces of this fabric, hence sense 1 (late 16th cent.). |
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Cite this article
"diaper." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "diaper." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-diaper.html "diaper." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-diaper.html |
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diaper
diaper. Decorative pattern on a plain, flat, unbroken surface consisting of the constant repetition of simple figures (such as squares, lozenges, or polygons) closely connected with each other, sometimes with embellishments in the form of stylized flowers. It may be lightly carved, as on the Gothic pulpitum (c.1320–40) in Southwell Minster, Notts.; painted on a wall; or formed of dark bricks laid in diagonal patterns on a lighter brick wall, commonly found in Tudor brickwork and in the works of Butterfield.
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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "diaper." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "diaper." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-diaper.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "diaper." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-diaper.html |
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diaper
diaper. An all-over pattern made up of small repeated geometric units (usually squares or lozenges) capable of indefinite extension in any direction. It is found carved in low relief on wall surfaces in Romanesque and Gothic architecture, in stained glass, and in the backgrounds of manuscript illuminations, especially of the late 13th and 14th centuries.
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IAN CHILVERS. "diaper." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. IAN CHILVERS. "diaper." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O2-diaper.html IAN CHILVERS. "diaper." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O2-diaper.html |
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diaper
diaper linen fabric with a small diamond pattern XIV; pattern of this kind XVII; small towel XVI. — OF. diapre, earlier diaspre — medL. diasprum — medGr. diaspros, f. DIA- + áspros white.
Hence diaper vb., diapered ppl. adj. XIV. |
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T. F. HOAD. "diaper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "diaper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-diaper.html T. F. HOAD. "diaper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-diaper.html |
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diaper
diaper
•coper, doper, eloper, Europa, groper, hoper, L-dopa, moper, no-hoper, opah, toper
•interloper
•blooper, cooper, Cowper, duper, grouper, Hooper, looper, pea-souper, pupa, scooper, snooper, stupa, stupor, super, trooper, trouper, whooper
•pooper-scooper • party-pooper
•paratrooper • mea culpa • chutzpah
•crupper, cuppa, scupper, supper, upper
•gulper, kalpa, pulper
•bumper, dumper, gazumper, jumper, lumper, stumper, thumper
•showjumper • diaper • galloper
•developer
•scalloper, walloper
•chirper, sherpa, usurper
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"diaper." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "diaper." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-diaper.html "diaper." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-diaper.html |
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