dos-à-dos

[ doh-see-doh, -zi- French doh-za-doh ]

noun

, plural dos-à-dos [doh, -see-, dohz, -zi-].

1. do-si-do.

verb (used with or without object)

, dos-à-dosed [doh, -see-, dohd], dos-à-dos·ing [doh, -see-, doh, -ing].

1. to do-si-do.

adverb

1. Archaic. back to back.

dos-à-dos

/ ˌdəʊsɪˈdəʊ; dozado /

noun

1. a seat on which the users sit back to back
2. an alternative spelling of do-si-do

Word History and Origins

Origin of dos-à-dos¹

1830–40; < French: back to back

Word History and Origins

Origin of dos-à-dos¹

literally: back to back

Example Sentences

This is a very rare example of the phenomenon known as triple dos-a-dos binding, meaning that three bindings are connected to each other by shared inner covers.

From New York Times

After seeing a display of stone tools, baskets and bags created by Native Americans, we were off to the antique autos gallery, which included an 1899 Mobile Steam Model Dos-a-Dos originally owned by Henry Ford.

From Seattle Times

The automobile of the future will look no more like the motor car of to-day than the limousine of 1913 looks like the dos-à-dos of 1896.

From Scientific American

Just as I stepped from the verandah, one of the small native dos-a-dos carts entered the grounds and drew up near the end of my corridor.

From Project Gutenberg

The tête-bêche dates back to the 19th century, though its close relative – the dos-à-dos, a complicated binding procedure that sees two books back to back but opening in different directions – goes back even earlier, and was common for religious texts.

From The Guardian