baize

[ beyz ]

/ beɪz /

a soft, usually green, woolen or cotton fabric resembling felt, used chiefly for the tops of billiard tables.

an article of this fabric or of a fabric resembling it.

to line or cover with baize.

Origin of baize

1570–80; earlier bayes < French baies (noun), Old French ( estoffes fabrics) baies, feminine plural of bai (adj.) bay⁵

She hurried the child through the baize door into the front hall, and pointed out a room that was close to the foot of the stairs.

The Youngest Girl in the School |Evelyn Sharp
She reached the baize door, opened it, and soon found herself in the old nursery.

Red Rose and Tiger Lily |L. T. Meade
Peggy trod light, the baize door swung quietly, Beaufort's attention had been much preoccupied.

The Intrusions of Peggy |Anthony Hope
Stains may be removed from panels by rubbing them with sweet oil on baize.

Mrs. Hale's Receipts for the Million |Sarah Josepha Hale

These industries afterwards declined, and in the beginning of the 19th century the baize manufacture was altogether given up.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 16, Slice 4 |Various

baize

/ (beɪz) /

a woollen fabric resembling felt, usually green, used mainly for the tops of billiard tables

(tr) to line or cover with such fabric

C16: from Old French baies, plural of baie baize, from bai reddish brown, bay 5, perhaps the original colour of the fabric