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, published 1986, page 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.

   • 1984, Anita Brookner, Hotel du Lac, Penguin, published 2016, page 76:

     ‘I rather thought I was useful as an audience, but only as a lay figure is useful to a painter: both can be put aside when no longer required.’

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