roly-poly
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌɹəʊlɪˈpəʊli/
ipa: /ˈɹoʊliˈpoʊli/
Forms: form: roly-polys
form: roly-polies
form: rolly polly
form: rolly-poly
form: rolly-pooly
Etymology: The noun is apparently derived from roll (“to turn over and over”) + -y (suffix forming adjectives with the sense ‘having the quality of’), reduplicated with a change of the initial consonant. Compare rolly (“having the ability to roll, rolling”, adjective), which is attested since the 19th century.
Sense 1.7 (“mischievous or worthless person”) is possibly influenced by poll (“head; (archaic) scalp; (by extension) person”).
The adjective and adverb are attested later than the noun, and so are probably derived from it.
Senses: examples: text: BOBO The Roly Poly Clown / Punch him—beat him—tackle him—Bobo will bounce right back with a smile!
ref: 1950 November 27, “American-made Toys … for American Girls and Boys [advertisement]”, in Henry R[obinson] Luce, editor, Life, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 79:
text: Among the many adaptations of the Japanese tumbler toy are those known to American children as a roly-poly and a Kelly.
ref: 1972, Arden J. Newsome, “Japanese”, in Crafts and Toys from around the World, New York, N.Y.: Julian Messner, →ISBN, page 67:
text: Though most often made of plastic, roly-poly tumble toys were commonly found in mid-century toy boxes.
ref: 2012, Jill Hamor, “Toys [Roly-poly Duck]”, in Lynn Koolish, editor, Storybook Toys: Sew 16 Projects from Once upon a Time, Lafayette, Calif.: Stash Books, C&T Publishing, →ISBN, page 108:
glosses: A toy that rights itself when pushed over.
examples: text: The Germans have a great idea that you must "stärken (strengthen)" yourself. So they eat every few hours. […] The German women are plump roly-polies, as a general rule, and it is probably in consequence of this continual "strengthening."
ref: 1880, Amy Fay, “The War. German Meals. Women and Men. Tausig’s Teaching. Tausig Abandons His Conservatory. Dresden. Kullak.”, in Music-study in Germany. […], 5th edition, Chicago, Ill.: Jansen, McClurg & Company, published 1883, →OCLC, page 80:
text: In a few weeks 'our baby' was a regular roly-poly, fat and frolicsome. Has she forgotten all the neglect? God grant it.
ref: 1893 December 1, Bishop of Jamaica [Enos Nuttall?], “Jamaica Church Ladies’ Association in England”, in The Net Cast in Many Waters: Sketches from the Life of Missionaries, for 1893, volume 28, number 1, London; Derby, Derbyshire: Bemrose & Sons […], →OCLC, page 190:
synonyms: word: All are derogatory unless otherwise labeled
word: butterball
word: chubster
word: chunker
word: chunky monkey
word: elephant
word: fat
word: fatfuck
word: fatso
word: fattie
word: fatty
word: fatty bom bom
word: fatty boombalatty
word: fat-ass
word: fatass
word: fat fuck
word: fatshit
word: fussock
word: gorbelly
word: hambeast
word: hamplanet
word: heffalump
word: landwhale
word: lardass
word: lardbucket
word: lardo
word: oinker
word: obeast
word: pig
word: podge
word: porker
word: pudge
word: roly-poly
word: salad dodger
word: swagbelly
word: thunder thighs
word: tubbo
word: tub of guts
word: tub of lard
word: whale
glosses: A short, plump person (especially a child).
examples: text: When you are finished with circle time, dismiss your children by helping each one do a roly-poly roll (a somersault) and roll away to their next activity.
ref: 1994, Patty Claycomb, “Roly-poly”, in Gayle Bittinger, editor, Bear Hugs for Circle Time: Positive Activities that Encourage Children to Pay Attention, Everett, Wash.: Warren Publishing House, →ISBN, page 14:
text: Children of this age can rarely complete a forward roll or somersault properly. […] A ‘roly poly’ roll or a tucked sideways roll will give the children just as much pleasure and also enough exercise and knowlege of turning and rolling at this stage of their development.
ref: 1997, Pauline Wetton, “Nursery Class Activities for the Primary School Hall”, in Physical Education in the Early Years (Teaching and Learning in the First Three Years at School), London; New York, N.Y.: Routledge, →ISBN, page 57:
topics: gymnastics
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
synonyms: somersault
glosses: A forward roll or sideways roll.
glosses: Synonym of tumbleweed (“any plant which habitually breaks away from its roots once dry, forming a light, rolling mass which is driven by the wind from place to place”); specifically, the prickly Russian thistle (Kali tragus or Salsola tragus).
synonyms: word: tumbleweed
extra: (“any plant which habitually breaks away from its roots once dry, forming a light, rolling mass which is driven by the wind from place to place”); specifically, the prickly Russian thistle (Kali tragus or Salsola tragus)
examples: text: [page 135] "Fanny has made the roly-poly pudding," says he; "the chops are my part. Here's a fine one; try this, Goldmore." […] [page 137] The three mutton-chops consumed by him were best of the mutton kind; the potatoes were perfect of their order; as for the roly-poly, it was too good.
ref: 1846 February 28 – 1847 February 27, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, “Snobs and Marriage”, in The Book of Snobs, London: Punch Office, […], published 1848, →OCLC, pages 135 and 137:
text: And he hates rabbit, and never touches roly-poly, and I must say the beef isn't over tender; […] Dinner began and proceeded till the last piece of the roly-poly pudding was consumed, though not by Cyril; […]
ref: 1869, Emma Jane Worboise, “Mrs. Matthews’ Family”, in The Fortunes of Cyril Denham, London: James Clarke & Co., […]; Hodder & Stoughton, […], →OCLC, page 190:
text: This is, indeed, an awful meal, and we have as yet only reached the joint, and there is a detestable, indigestible, unswallowable jam roly-poly to follow.
ref: 1873 March 26, “Rose Anna: Regina: Henry is Troubled in His Conscience”, in C[harles] H[enry] Ross, editor, Judy, or The London Serio-comic Journal, volume XII, London: Published by the proprietor […], →OCLC, page 233, column 1:
glosses: A baked or steamed pudding made from suet pastry which is spread with fruit or jam (or occasionally other fillings) and then rolled up.
examples: text: A roly-poly had found his way inside the house; I reasoned that the tiny varmint had crawled up the steps. […] The creatures are no more than an inch long, and when you touch them they roll themselves into a tight gray ball.
ref: 1960 July 11, Harper Lee, chapter 25, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Philadelphia, Pa.; New York, N.Y.: J[oshua] B[allinger] Lippincott Company, →OCLC, part 2, page 251:
text: Terrestrial isopods, commonly known as pill bugs, sow bugs, or roly-polys, are generally familiar to most of us.
ref: 1995, Henry W. Robison, Robert T. Allen, “Subphylum Crustacea: Crustaceans”, in Only in Arkansas: A Study of the Endemic Plants and Animals of the State, Fayetteville, Ark.: University of Arkansas Press, →ISBN, page 45:
text: From the window, she sees them discover a colony of roly-polies (tiny gray bugs that roll into miniature balls in the presence of danger). She delights in the wonder and fun of the children as they play gently with the tiny bugs.
ref: 1997, Clark M. Williamson, Ronald J[ames] Allen, “Worship as the Power of God”, in Adventures of the Spirit: A Guide to Worship from the Perspective of Process Theology, Lanham, Md.; Oxford, Oxfordshire: University Press of America, →ISBN, page 76:
text: [Romy Tinkle] What is that thing, Quincy?! / [Quincy Tinkle] Um … It's a giant Rolly Polly (Pill Bug). It's been living entirely on my body-building protein powder, apparently!!
ref: 2002 May 26, J[effrey] J. Rowland, Wigu Adventures (webcomic), archived from the original on 13 Dec 2009:
glosses: In full roly-poly bug: a small terrestrial invertebrate which tends to roll into a ball when disturbed, such as a woodlouse (suborder Oniscidea, especially a pill bug (family Armadillidiidae) or a sowbug (family Porcellionidae)) or a pill millipede (superorder Oniscomorpha).
examples: text: Ile haue thee in league vvith theſe tvvo rovvly povvlies: they ſhal be thy Damons and thou their Pithy-aſſe; […]
ref: 1601 (first performance), Thomas Dekker, Satiro-mastix. Or The Untrussing of the Humorous Poet. […], London: […] [Edward Allde] for Edward White, […], published 1602, →OCLC, signatures D, recto – D, verso:
text: Hovv novv, good man ſlaue? vvhat, Rovvle Povvle? all riuals, Raſcal?
ref: [1601, Ben Jonson, Poetaster or The Arraignment: […], London: […] [R. Bradock] for M[atthew] L[ownes] […], published 1602, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii:
text: Go to: I vvill not bate him an ace on't. / VVhat? Rovvle-povvle? Maple-face? All Fellovvs?
ref: [1633 (first performance), Ben Jonson, “A Tale of a Tub. A Comedy […]”, in The Works of Beniamin Jonson, […] (Third Folio), London: […] Thomas Hodgkin, for H[enry] Herringman, E. Brewster, T. Bassett, R[ichard] Chiswell, M. Wotton, G. Conyers, published 1692, →OCLC, Act II, scene ii, page 515:
synonyms: word: agitator
word: bad boy
word: bad news
word: bear
word: bhoy
word: blackguard
word: booger
word: boot boy
word: bovver boy
word: brat
word: brawler
word: breedbate
word: buffoon
word: bugger
word: bully
word: charva
word: cutup
word: devil
word: elf
word: enfant terrible
word: firebrand
word: gadfly
word: hell-raiser
word: hood
word: hoodlum
word: hool
word: hoolie
word: hooligan
word: hothead
word: imp
word: inciter
word: initiator
word: instigator
word: jackanapes
word: joker
word: jokester
word: kindle-coal
word: kindle-fire
word: knave
word: lout
word: makebate
word: minx
word: mischief
word: mischief-maker
word: miscreant
word: ne'er-do-well
word: pixie
word: pot stirrer
word: practical joker
word: prankster
word: puck
word: rabble rouser
word: rakeshame
word: rantipole
word: rapscallion
word: rascal
word: rogue
word: roly-poly
word: rowdy
word: ruffian
word: scamp
word: scapegrace
word: scoundrel
word: shit disturber
word: shitmonger
word: shit-stirrer
word: tearaway
word: thug
word: titivil
word: tough
word: troublemaker
word: undesirable
word: vandal
word: wag
word: wagpastie
word: wrangler
word: yob
word: yobbo
word: absolute zero
word: asswipe
word: badling
word: blatherskite
word: bugger
word: carrion
word: cipher
word: cockstain
word: crumb
word: custron
word: dandiprat
word: doink
word: fellow
word: fritlag
word: geek
word: good-for-naught
word: good-for-nothing
word: hoon
word: lidderon
word: losel
word: loser
word: louse
word: maggot
word: nonce
word: nowmun
word: ne'er-do-well
word: no-good
word: no-mark
word: nonentity
word: pelf
word: pig dog
word: pile of shit
word: pissant
word: punk
word: puny
word: quat
word: ramp
word: rinky-dink
word: roly-poly
word: scullion
word: slubberdegullion
word: sparrow-fart
word: streak of piss
word: toerag
word: truant
word: twerp
word: wankstain
word: waste of space
word: underperson
word: unworthy
glosses: A mischievous or worthless person; a scoundrel, a rascal.
examples: text: If this be your Play (quoth John) that vve may not be like a Quaker's dumb Meeting, let us begin ſome Diverſion; vvhat d'ye think of Rouly-Pouly, or a Country-Dance?
ref: 1712, Humphry Polesworth [pseudonym; John Arbuthnot], “The Sequel of the History of the Meeting at the Salutation”, in Lewis Baboon Turned Honest, and John Bull Politician. Being the Fourth Part of Law is a Bottomless-Pit. […], London: […] John Morphew, […], →OCLC, page 6:
glosses: An activity or game involving rolling.
examples: text: Often I did view the shade / Where once a nest my eyes did fill, / And often mark'd the place I play'd / At "roly poly" down the hill.
ref: 1821, John Clare, “[Poems.] Recollections after a Ramble.”, in The Village Minstrel, and Other Poems, volume I, London: […] [T. Miller] for Taylor and Hessey, […]; and E[dward] Drury, […], →OCLC, stanza 8, page 128:
topics: games
glosses: An activity or game involving rolling.
A game involving people (usually children) rolling down a slope.
examples: text: This is one of the games prohibited by Edward IV.; and received its denomination from being played with one half of a sphere of wood. Half-bowl is practised to this day in Hertfordshire, where it is commonly called rolly-polly; and it is best performed upon the floor of a room, especially if it be smooth and level. There are fifteen small pins of a conical form required for this pastime; […] the bowl, when delivered, must pass above the pins, and round the end-pin, without the circle, before it beats any of them down; if not, the cast is forfeited: […]
ref: 1841, Joseph Strutt, William Hone, chapter VII, in The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England. […], new edition, London: […] Thomas Tegg, […], →OCLC, book III (Pastimes usually Exercised in Towns and Cities, or Places Adjoining to Them), section XII (Half-bowl), page 274:
text: ROLY-POLY, or NINE HOLES, a game of ball played by any number of persons, generally nine. […] The Roller tries to roll the ball into one of the holes. If he makes three consecutive misses, a pebble is placed in his hole. […] Roly Poly is a very old English game. It is sometimes played in England with hats instead of holes, and it is then often called Egg Hat. In this case the ball is pitched instead of rolled.
ref: 1890, John D[enison] Champlin [Jr.], Arthur E[lmore] Bostwick, “Roly-poly, or Nine Holes”, in The Young Folk’s Cyclopædia of Games and Sports, 2nd edition, New York, N.Y.: Henry Holt and Company, →OCLC, pages 585–586:
text: "Gee, we can play Roly Poly," argued John. "We can play right in this room." / "Sure," agreed Bobby. "All we'll have to do is to make our triangle and bowling lines."
ref: 1927, Ellsworth Collings, “Education as Growth”, in School Supervision in Theory and Practice, New York, N.Y.: Thomas Y[oung] Crowell Company, →OCLC, part I (The Improvement of Supervision Theory), page 6:
topics: games
glosses: An activity or game involving rolling.
A game in which balls are rolled along the floor to knock down pins, or bowled into holes, or thrown into hats placed on the ground.
examples: text: And be it further enacted by the Authority aforeſaid, That if any Perſon or Perſons whatſoever ſhall, after the ſaid Twenty fourth Day of June, One thouſand ſeven hundred and forty five, play at the ſaid Game of Roulet, otherwiſe Roly-poly, or at any Game of Chance with Cards or Dice, already prohibited by Law, every ſuch Perſon or Perſons ſo offending, ſhall alſo incur the Pains and Penalties, and be liable to ſuch Proſecution, as is directed in and by an Act made in the Twelfth Year of the Reign of His preſent Majeſty, intituled, An Act for the more effectual preventing exceſſive and deceitful Gaming.
ref: 1744, “An Act to Explain, Amend, and Make More Effectual the Laws in Being, to Prevent Excessive and Deceitful Gaming; and to Restrain and Prevent the Excessive Increase of Horse Races”, in Anno Regni Georgii II. Regis Magnæ Britanniæ, Franciæ, & Hiberniæ, Decimo Octavo. […] [In the Year of the Reign of George II. King of Great Britain, France, & Ireland, the Eighteenth …], London: […] Thomas Baskett, printer to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty; and by the assigns of Robert Baskett, published 1745, →OCLC, section 2, page 712:
english: In the Year of the Reign of George II. King of Great Britain, France, & Ireland, the Eighteenth …
translation: In the Year of the Reign of George II. King of Great Britain, France, & Ireland, the Eighteenth …
topics: games
gaming
glosses: An activity or game involving rolling.
Synonym of roulette (“a game of chance in which a small ball is made to move round rapidly on a circle divided off into numbered red and black spaces, the one on which it stops indicating the result of a variety of wagers permitted by the game”).
synonyms: word: roulette
extra: a game of chance in which a small ball is made to move round rapidly on a circle divided off into numbered red and black spaces, the one on which it stops indicating the result of a variety of wagers permitted by the game