A lover chanting out a billet-doux. --Spectator. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
billet-doux — also billet doux, 1670s, love letter, French, lit. sweet note, from billet document, note (14c., dim. of bille; see BILL (Cf. bill) (n.1)) + doux sweet, from L. dulcis (see DULCET (Cf. dulcet)) … Etymology dictionary
billet-doux — ► NOUN (pl. billets doux) dated or humorous ▪ a love letter. ORIGIN French, sweet note … English terms dictionary
billet-doux — [bē΄yā do͞o′, bil΄ādo͞o] n. pl. billets doux [bē΄yā do͞o′, bil΄ā do͞o′; bē΄yādo͞oz′, bil΄ādo͞oz′] [Fr, lit., sweet letter] a love letter … English World dictionary
Billet doux — ● Billet doux lettre d amour … Encyclopédie Universelle
billet-doux — UK [ˌbɪleɪ ˈduː] / US [ˌbɪleɪ ˈdu] noun [countable] Word forms billet doux : singular billet doux plural billets doux UK [ˌbɪleɪ ˈduːz] / US [ˌbɪleɪˈduz] literary a letter expressing your love for someone … English dictionary
billet-doux — noun (plural billets doux) Etymology: French billet doux, literally, sweet letter Date: 1673 a love letter … New Collegiate Dictionary
billet-doux — bil|let doux [ ,bıleı du ] (plural bil|lets doux [ ,bıleı duz ] ) noun count LITERARY a letter expressing your love for someone … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
billet-doux — bil•let doux [[t]ˈbɪl eɪˈdu, ˈbɪl i [/t]] n. pl. bil•lets doux [[t]ˈbɪl eɪˈduz, ˈdu, ˈbɪl i [/t]] a love letter • Etymology: 1665–75; < F … From formal English to slang
billet-doux — /bil ay dooh , bil ee /; Fr. /bee yay dooh /, n., pl. billets doux /bil ay doohz , bil ee /; Fr. /bee yay dooh /. a love letter. [1665 75; < F: lit., sweet note. See BILLET1, DOUCE] * * * … Universalium
billet-doux — (Fr.) Love letter; pl. billets doux … Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors
