baby-doll
Meaning
A doll made to resemble a baby.
A style of women's nightgown or dress, typically short and loose with a fitted bodice and a flared skirt.
Structure
Usage
She cherished the antique baby-doll she had received as a christening gift.
The actress wore a silk baby-doll nightie in the iconic bedroom scene.
The fashion collection featured modern takes on the classic baby-doll dress.
Etymology
The compound "baby-doll" is a straightforward combination of two English nouns, each with distinct origins. "Baby" entered English in the 14th century, likely from infant babbling, to denote a very young child. "Doll," emerging in the 16th century as a pet form of the name Dorothy, came to mean a child's toy representing a human figure. The term first literally described a doll shaped like an infant. In the mid-20th century, its meaning extended metaphorically to a style of women's sleepwear, evoking the short, youthful, and playful appearance associated with a doll dressed for bed, thus linking the concrete object to an abstract style descriptor.
Analysis
baby: Origin: Middle English, likely imitative of infant speech. Functional role: Base noun specifying the type or resemblance. doll: Origin: A shortening of the name Dorothy. Functional role: Base noun specifying the object category.