driz
Preserved but no longer current.
Lace. In a low lodging-house this singular autograph inscription appeared over the mantelpiece. "Scotch Mary, with DRIZ [lace], bound to Dover and back, please God." It is a common thing for ignorant or superstitious people to make some mark or sign before going on a journey, and then to wonder whether it will be there when they return.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “driz” mean?
Lace. In a low lodging-house this singular autograph inscription appeared over the mantelpiece. "Scotch Mary, with DRIZ [lace], bound to Dover and back, please God." It is a common thing for ignorant or superstitious people to make some mark or sign before going on a journey, and then to wonder whether it will be there when they return.
Is “driz” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.