# doublet

/dˈʌblət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/doublet
Updated: 2026-07-31

## Senses

### 1. linguistic cognates

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

two different words in the same language that come from the same original word.

For teachers: one of two or more words in a language that share a common etymological ancestor but have diverged in form and meaning.

- 'Shirt' and 'skirt' are a doublet because they both come from the same old word.
- The English language is rich in etymological doublets, such as 'fragile' and 'frail', which entered the lexicon via different routes from the same Latin root.

### 2. historical clothing

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a short, tight jacket worn by men in Europe between the 1400s and 1600s.

For teachers: a man's close-fitting, padded jacket, often with detachable sleeves, characteristic of European fashion from the late Middle Ages to the mid-17th century.

- The actor wore a velvet doublet for his role in the Shakespeare play.
- The museum's textile collection includes a rare silk doublet from the Elizabethan era, remarkably preserved with its original silver embroidery.

### 3. imitation gemstone

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a fake jewel made by joining two pieces of glass or stone together.

For teachers: a counterfeit or assembled gemstone consisting of two layers, typically a thin slice of genuine stone glued to a glass or synthetic base.

- The ring looked like a real emerald, but it was actually a clever doublet.
- Jewellers must be careful to distinguish between solid opals and doublets, as the latter are significantly less valuable due to their composite nature.

### 4. optical lenses

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a pair of lenses used together in a microscope or camera to make the image clearer.

For teachers: an arrangement of two lenses, often made of different types of glass, designed to reduce optical errors like chromatic aberration.

- The microscope uses a doublet to help the scientist see the tiny cells clearly.
- By using an achromatic doublet, the telescope designer was able to eliminate the purple fringing that often plagues cheaper optical systems.

## Examples

- The actor wore a velvet doublet for the historical play.
- Museum curators carefully preserved the silk doublet, noting the intricate embroidery that signified the wearer's high social status during the Renaissance.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.