Etymology

polka dot

Today it means: Any of a number of uniform round dots, repeated to make a regular geometric pattern on a fabric. Full definition →

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The story

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.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.