diaper

diaper
/duy"peuhr, duy"euh peuhr/, n.
1. a piece of cloth or other absorbent material folded and worn as underpants by a baby not yet toilet-trained.
2. Also called diaper cloth. a linen or cotton fabric with a woven pattern of small, constantly repeated figures, as diamonds.
3. Also called diaper pattern. such a pattern, originally used in the Middle Ages in weaving silk and gold.
v.t.
4. to put a diaper on.
5. to ornament with a diaperlike pattern.
[1300-50; ME diapre < AF dia(s)p(r)e < ML diasprus made of diaper < MGk díaspros pure white, equiv. to Gk di- DI3 + MGk áspros white]

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      in architecture, surface decoration, carved or painted, generally composed of square or lozenge shapes but also of other simple figures, each of which contains a flower, a spray of leaves, or some such device. The pattern is repetitive and is usually based on a square grid. It was a common form of sculptural wall enrichment in Gothic art. An example is the 14th-century pulpitum, or choir screen, of Lincoln cathedral, Lincolnshire, England.

      In Victorian England, attempts were made to reproduce diaper in brickwork, bricks of different colours being used to form bold patterns like pieces of polychrome cross-stitch work. The architect A.W.N. Pugin so embellished his own house, St. Marie's Grange, near Salisbury. This vogue was, in fact, a revival of brick diapering in Tudor times.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • diaper — [dī′pər, dī′ə pər] n. [ME < OFr diapre, diaspre, kind of ornamented cloth < ML diasprum, flowered cloth, altered (after dia , DIA , because of ML pronun. of initial j ) < jaspis < L iaspis, JASPER] 1. a) Archaic cloth or fabric with a …   English World dictionary

  • Diaper — Di a*per, v. t. 1. To ornament with figures, etc., arranged in the pattern called diaper, as cloth in weaving. Diapered light. H. Van Laun. [1913 Webster] Engarlanded and diapered With in wrought flowers. Tennyson. [1913 Webster] 2. To put a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Diaper — Di a*per (d[imac] [.a]*p[ e]r), n. [OF. diaspre, diapre, diaspe, sort of figured cloth, It. diaspro jasper, diaspo figured cloth, from L. jaspis a green colored precious stone. See {Jasper}.] 1. Any textile fabric (esp. linen or cotton toweling)… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Diaper — Di a*per, v. i. To draw flowers or figures, as upon cloth. If you diaper on folds. Peacham. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Diaper — (engl., spr. Deiäper), geblümte, damastartige Linnen …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Diaper — (engl. Deiäpr), geblümte, damastartige Leinwand …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • diaper — mid 14c., fabric with a repeated pattern of figures, from O.Fr. diaspre ornamental cloth; flowered, patterned silk cloth, perhaps via M.L. diasprum from Medieval Gk. diaspros thoroughly white, or perhaps white interspersed with other colors, from …   Etymology dictionary

  • diaper — ► NOUN 1) N. Amer. a baby s nappy. 2) a fabric woven in a pattern of small diamonds. 3) a repeating geometrical pattern. ► VERB 1) N. Amer. put a nappy on (a baby). 2) decorate with a repeating geometrical pattern …   English terms dictionary

  • Diaper — Nappy redirects here. For other uses, see Nappy (disambiguation) and Diaper (disambiguation). For the geological term, see diapir. Disposable baby diaper with resealable tapes and elasticated leg cuffs …   Wikipedia

  • diaper — 01. When my daughter was a baby, my husband and I always took turns changing her [diapers]. 02. We don t use disposable [diapers] because they re too wasteful; we use cotton ones. 03. When I have kids, I will help my wife change our babies… …   Grammatical examples in English

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