Brewer's: Diaper

A sort of cloth, a corruption of D'Ypres, where it is largely manufactured. Similarly we have calico from Calicut; nankeen from Nankin; worsted from Worsted, in Norfolk; and half a score other similar words. The French diapré, variegated, seems far more likely to be the source of this word, for diaper is cloth variegated with flowers, etc., like damask.

Related Content Allusions Foreign Words and Phrases Latin and Greek Word Elements Names: Their Origins and Meanings Old Testament Names Mythology Ancient Greek Literature & Mythology The Bible (King James version) The Koran (translation by J. M. Rodwell) Shakespeare's Plays Tales from Shakespeare (Charles and Mary Lamb) Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language