billet-doux

[ bil-ey-doo, bil-ee-; French bee-yey-doo ]

noun

, plural bil·lets-doux [bil, -ey-, dooz, bil, -ee-, bee-yey-, doo].

1. a love letter.

billet-doux

/ bijɛdu; ˌbɪlɪˈduː /

noun

1. old-fashioned.
   a love letter

Word History and Origins

Origin of billet-doux¹

1665–75; < French: literally, sweet note. See billet ¹, douce

Word History and Origins

Origin of billet-doux¹

C17: from French, literally: a sweet letter, from billet (see billet ¹) + doux sweet, from Latin dulcis

Example Sentences

The bus ticket or taxi receipt or even billet doux employed as a bookmark - not just the marginalia of an intellectual life but the detritus of the heart.

From BBC

Should the billet doux contain a note of contrition, following an argument?

From BBC

The sorting of the letters was accompanied by such facetious subtleties as “Do we behold a billet doux?” or the murmured misquotation: “He sent a letter to his love.”

From Project Gutenberg

A young lady receiving a billet doux—Robert did not call it thus, being no sympathiser with foreign languages—would naturally reward the messenger.

From Project Gutenberg

So I'd best prepare my self for an Attack, which I did not expect long: It was begun by a Billet Doux, which came first to my Mother's Hands; and when she gave it me, she ask'd what Answer I wou'd return.

From Project Gutenberg