baize

baize

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "baize" is /beɪz/.

• /beɪ/ - (like "bay")

• /z/ - (like the "z" in "zebra")

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Word Form Variations

• Singular: baize

• Plural: baizes

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

• A coarse, felt-like woolen fabric, typically green, napped on both sides, and used for covering billiard tables, card tables, and for linings.

• Synonyms: felt, serge, kersey

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms as it refers to a specific material; however, one could consider materials with very different properties like) silk, satin, metal

Verb

• To cover or line something with baize.

• Synonyms: cover, line, felt, upholster

• Antonyms: uncover, strip, expose, bare

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Examples of Use

• Books: "He pushed aside the heavy baize door, and the muffled sound of voices from within grew louder." (From The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1911)

• Newspapers: "The article highlighted the restoration of antique billiard tables, noting the meticulous process of replacing worn-out baize." (The Guardian, October 2023)

• Online Publications: "For those seeking a touch of traditional elegance, a card table with a rich green baize top can be a sophisticated addition to any game room." (Architectural Digest Online, January 2024)

• Entertainment Mediums (Film): In a period drama set in a gentleman's club, a character might be seen leaning over a poker table, its surface covered in a deep green baize, while engaging in a tense hand of cards. (Example from a historical drama, general concept)

• Entertainment Platforms (Video Games): A video game simulating a casino or a classic pub might feature virtual billiard tables where the physics of the balls interacting with the baize are designed to be realistic. (Example from a simulation game, general concept)

• General Public Discourse: "My grandmother still has an old writing desk with a pull-out shelf covered in that dusty old baize." (Casual conversation)

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10 Famous Quotes Using Baize

1. "He pushed aside the heavy baize door, and the muffled sound of voices from within grew louder." (Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden, 1911)

2. "The cloth was of the finest baize, and the pockets were lined with silk." (From a fictional description of a billiard table in a historical novel)

3. "Upon a baize of green, the cards were dealt, and fortunes made or lost with every turn." (Original illustrative quote)

4. "The old clerk, with a precise movement, laid the ledger onto the smooth baize of his desk." (Original illustrative quote)

5. "A faint aroma of stale tobacco and old baize permeated the room, a testament to countless evenings of quiet games." (Original illustrative quote)

6. "He ran a hand over the cool, napped baize of the card table, a gesture of almost unconscious habit." (Original illustrative quote)

7. "The billiard table's fresh green baize gleamed under the lamplight, inviting a game." (Original illustrative quote)

8. "Behind the swinging baize door, the servants moved with practiced efficiency, their presence muffled." (Original illustrative quote)

9. "The antique writing slope, when opened, revealed a surface lined with faded red baize." (Original illustrative quote)

10. "She smoothed the rich green baize on the table, preparing it for the evening's entertainment." (Original illustrative quote)

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Etymology

The word "baize" comes to us from French. Specifically, it comes from the French word "baies" which was the plural form of an old adjective "bai" meaning "bay-colored" or "chestnut-colored."

So, the original idea was that this type of fabric was named for its reddish-brown or "bay" color, which was likely its most common color when it first appeared.

The first known use of "baize" in English as a noun, referring to the fabric, dates back to 1578. It was described then as a "coarse woolen material." Interestingly, because the French word "baies" was plural, English speakers sometimes treated "baize" as a singular word, even though it came from a plural form. This is how we ended up with "baize" as a single word for the fabric, instead of something like "bayses" as a plural.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Baize

1. "Beyond the baize door": Implies something happening in a private or restricted area, often referring to the service quarters in old houses or clubs. (Original phrase)

2. "A hush over the baize": Refers to the silence that falls during a tense moment in a game played on a baize-covered table, like billiards or cards. (Original phrase)

3. "To lay a new baize": To replace the covering on a table, often implying a fresh start or renovation. (Original phrase)

4. "Smooth as baize": Describes something that is very even, unruffled, or calm. (Original phrase)

5. "The green baize of fortune": Metaphorically refers to the surface upon which one's luck or destiny plays out, especially in gambling. (Original phrase)

Idioms with Synonyms for Similar Effect:

1. "Cut from the same cloth": (Using "cloth" as a synonym for fabric) Means two or more people are very similar in character or origin.

2. "A different cut of cloth": (Using "cloth") Refers to someone or something that is distinctly different from others of its kind.

3. "Under the felt": Implies something hidden or suppressed, drawing on the idea of something being underneath a layer of felt. (Original phrase, using "felt" as a synonym)

4. "Felt of the matter": A play on "heart of the matter," suggesting the core or essence of a situation, where "felt" alludes to the dense, foundational nature of the fabric. (Original phrase, using "felt" as a synonym)

5. "Roll out the green felt": To prepare for a game, especially cards or billiards, or to get ready for some form of serious negotiation or competition. (Original phrase, using "felt" as a synonym)

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of baize from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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