The spelling of the word "doyly" has puzzled many people. It is actually a variant of the word "doily," which is a small decorative mat often placed under a vase or a dish. The reason for the unusual spelling is due to its pronunciation. In IPA phonetic transcription, "doily" is pronounced as /ˈdɔɪli/, with the "oy" sound taking the place of the more common "o" sound found in other words such as "boil" or "toil." Therefore, "doyly" is simply a spelling that reflects the correct pronunciation of the word.
The word "doyly" is derived from the Middle English term "doilie", which originated in Old French as "doilé" or "doillé". The Old French term can be traced back to the verb "doiller", meaning "to nap" or "to fuzz". In the 16th century, "doilie" referred to a small napkin or cloth placed under a dish to protect the table. Over time, the spelling evolved to "doyly", and the term became specifically associated with a small decorative cloth or mat placed under serving dishes during formal dining.