polka dot

• polka-dot, polkadot

First use appears in the US c. 1857 in the publication Godey's Lady's Book. Named after the polka dance, which was popular at the time (1840–1890). Numerous composites were formed posteriorly, but those names have not endured.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɒl.kə ˌdɒt/, /ˈpəʊ.kə ˌdɒt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpoʊ.kə ˌdɑt/

polka dot (plural polka dots)

1. Any of a number of uniform round dots, repeated to make a regular geometric pattern on a fabric.
   • 1871, Godey’s magazine‎^[1], volumes 86-87, page 389:

     …these have entirely disappeared, and we see them with the old time white polka dot, always pretty clean and neat looking.

polka dot (third-person singular simple present polka dots, present participle polka dotting, simple past and past participle polka dotted)

1. (transitive) To cover as with polka dots.

• “All the while doing the Postal Polka Two-Step.”, The Word Detective