polka dot en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈpoʊ.kə ˌdɑt/ (US)
- /ˈpɒl.kə ˌdɒt/ (UK)
- /ˈpəʊ.kə ˌdɒt/ (UK)
Etymology
First use appears in the US c. 1857 in the publication Godey's Lady's Book. Named after the polka dance, which was popular at the time (1840–1890). Numerous composites were formed posteriorly, but those names have not endured.
Meanings
-
Any of a number of uniform round dots, repeated to make a regular geometric pattern on a fabric.
…these have entirely disappeared, and we see them with the old time white polka dot, always pretty clean and neat looking.
1871, Godey’s magazine, volumes 86-87, page 389:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| polka dots | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| polka-dot | alternative | lexicographic | |
| polkadot | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Translations (21)
cmn 波爾卡圓點 /波尔卡圆点 (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · gl petadas (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · bg десен на точки (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · es lunar (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · es mota (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · es topo (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · ja 水玉模様 (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · pl grochy (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · ru узо́р в горо́шек (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · cmn 波點 /波点 (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · de Punktmuster (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · cy smotyn crwn (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · it pois (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · ca pic (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · fr pois (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · ja 水玉 (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · ru горо́шек (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · vi chấm bi polka (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · cmn 波爾卡點 /波尔卡点 (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · es pinta (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric) · ga polcaphonc (uniform round dots forming a pattern on fabric)