dotey Anglo-Ir.
(ˈdəʊtɪ)
Also doaty, doty.
[Related to dote v.1]
A term of endearment, esp. for a child. Also attrib. or as adj.
| 1892 E. Lawless Grania II. iii. iii. 30 Arrah, hush, my dotey! Be easy, now, there's a good child. 1898 in Eng. Dial. Dict. s.v., Come here, doaty, and give me a kiss. 1919 G. B. Shaw Heartbreak House i. 4 Nurse Guinness. Never mind him, doty. Ibid. 9 Remember that I am Lady Utterword, and not Miss Addy, nor lovey, nor darling, nor doty. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 257, I looked so simple in the cradle they christened me simple Simon.—You must have been a doaty, Miss Douce made answer. 1930 S. Beckett Whoroscope 2 My squinty doaty! 1936 ‘N. Blake’ Thou Shell of Death xiii. 230 Ah, a dotey little love she was. 1967 S. Beckett No's Knife 82 She'll say to me, Come, doty, it's time for bye-bye. |