doublet

[ duhb-lit ]

noun

1. a close-fitting outer garment, with or without sleeves and sometimes having a short skirt, worn by men in the Renaissance.
2. an undergarment, quilted and reinforced with mail, worn beneath armor.
3. a pair of like things; couple.
4. one of a pair of like things; duplicate.
5. Linguistics. one of two or more words in a language that are derived from the same source, especially when one is learned while the other is popular, as coy and quiet, both taken from the same Latin word, quiet directly, and coy by way of Old French.
6. Printing. an unintentional repetition in printed matter or proof.
7. doublets, a throw of a pair of dice in which the same number of spots turns up on each die.
8. Jewelry. a counterfeit gem made of two pieces, either of smaller gemstones, inferior stones, or glass. Compare imitation doublet, triplet ( def 6 ).
9. Optics. a compound lens made of two thin lenses shaped so as to reduce chromatic and spherical aberrations.

doublet

/ ˈdʌblɪt /

noun

1. (formerly) a man's close-fitting jacket, with or without sleeves (esp in the phrase doublet and hose. )
2. 1. a pair of similar things, esp two words deriving ultimately from the same source, for example reason and ratio or fragile and frail
   2. one of such a pair
3. jewellery a false gem made by welding a thin layer of a gemstone onto a coloured glass base or by fusing two small stones together to make a larger one
4. physics
   1. a multiplet that has two members
   2. a closely spaced pair of related spectral lines
5. plural two dice each showing the same number of spots on one throw
6. physics two simple lenses designed to be used together, the optical distortion in one being balanced by that in the other

Word History and Origins

Origin of doublet¹

1300–50; Middle English < Middle French. See double, -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of doublet¹

C14: from Old French, from double

Example Sentences

But when they applied torque using the magnets, each particle began to rotate, creating temporary doublets that quickly formed and broke up.

From Science Daily

In Murillo’s “Prodigal Son” cycle, as the hero runs out of money and into disgrace, his silk doublet and finely paned sleeves disintegrate before our eyes.

From New York Times

No. 11 puts that into action, with free beers for the spectators charged with sewing a doublet.

From New York Times

Somehow, despite the fact that we’ve been at sea for nearly two months, his silk doublet and velvet breeches still look relatively fresh.

From Literature

The cuffs and collars and doublets, and curled and powdered wigs, are perfectly serviceable but could use more rococo ornamentation, with brighter colors, opulent fabrics and jewels.

From New York Times

Related Words

• combination
• couple
• duo
• match
• team
• two