doll
UK[dɒl]US[dɑːl]
n
A child's toy in the form of a small human figure.
n
A person considered to be pretty, delicate, or insubstantial, especially a young woman.
v
To dress someone or oneself in a smart or stylish way.
Etymology
The word 'doll' emerged in 16th century England as a familiar nickname for the female given name Dorothy, much like 'Moll' for Mary. This personal name was then applied to a child's toy, likely because such toys were often given female names. The semantic shift from a personal name to a toy figure represents a process of metonymy, where the name for a person was transferred to an object representing a person. The term's later, sometimes dismissive, application to a person, especially a young woman, reflects a cyclical evolution where the toy term was reapplied to a human.
Analysis
The word 'doll' is a simplex word. It is a loanword and a nickname, not formed from combinable classical morphemes. Its origin is as a pet form of the female name 'Dorothy'.
Examples
She cherished the porcelain doll her grandmother had given her.
He spent the afternoon dolling himself up for the gala.
The movie portrayed the actress not just as a pretty doll, but as a formidable intellect.