lay figure

English

Lay figure attributed to Albrecht Dürer

Noun

lay figure (plural lay figures)

1. A jointed model of the human body used by artists, or to display clothes.
   • 1828, JT Smith, Nollekens and His Times, Century Hutchinson 1986, p. 243:

     ‘I have a great mind to break all your gashly images about the head of your fine Miss, in her silks and satins;’—mistaking his lay-figure for a living model of the highest sort.

2. An unimportant person; a character (especially in fiction) lacking individuality.

Synonyms

• (jointed model of human body): dummy, mannequin
• (unimportant person): Joe Average

Translations

jointed model — see dummy

unimportant person — see Joe Average