doormat
|door-mat|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈdɔːrˌmæt/
🇬🇧
/ˈdɔː.mæt/
entrance mat; submissive person
Etymology
Etymology Information
'doormat' originates from the combination of 'door' and 'mat', where 'door' refers to an entrance and 'mat' refers to a piece of material placed on the floor.
Historical Evolution
'doormat' has been used in English since the 17th century to describe a mat placed at a door.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred only to the physical mat, but over time it evolved to describe a submissive person.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a mat placed in front of a door for wiping the shoes before entering a building.
Please wipe your feet on the doormat before coming in.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/20 09:44