Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

billet-doux

 - 3 dictionary results

bil⋅let-doux

[bil-ey-doo, bil-ee-; Fr. bee-yey-doo]
–noun, plural bil⋅lets-doux [bil-ey-dooz, bil-ee-; Fr. bee-yey-doo] .
a love letter.

Origin:
1665–75; < F: lit., sweet note. See billet 1 , douce
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To billet-doux
bil·let-doux   (bĭl'ā-dōō')   
n.   pl. bil·lets-doux (bĭl'ā-dōōz')
A love letter.

[French : billet, short note; see billet1 + doux, sweet (from Latin dulcis).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

billet-doux 
1673, "love letter," from Fr., lit. "sweet note," from billet "document, note" (dim. of bille) + doux "sweet," from L. dulcis.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see billet-doux on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: