Sekirov Dictionary

roly-poly

UK /ˌɹəʊlɪˈpəʊli/US /ˈɹoʊliˈpoʊli/

noun 11
adjective 2
adverb 2
forms 4

noun11

•
(informal) A short, plump person (especially a child).
- In a few weeks 'our baby' was a regular roly-poly, fat and frolicsome. Has she forgotten all the neglect? God grant it. — 1893
•
(US, Canada) 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).
- Terrestrial isopods, commonly known as pill bugs, sow bugs, or roly-polys, are generally familiar to most of us. — 1995
•
[before a noun] (UK) A baked or steamed pudding made from suet pastry which is spread with fruit or jam (or occasionally other fillings) and then rolled up.
- 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. — 1873
•
A toy that rights itself when pushed over.
- BOBO The Roly Poly Clown / Punch him—beat him—tackle him—Bobo will bounce right back with a smile! — 1950
•
A forward roll or sideways roll.
- 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. — 1994
•
A game involving people (usually children) rolling down a slope.
- 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. — 1821
•
(historical) An activity or game involving rolling.
- 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? — 1712
•
(historical) 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.
- "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." — 1927
(historical) 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”).
(Australia) 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).
•
(no longer used) A mischievous or worthless person; a scoundrel, a rascal.
- Ile haue thee in league vvith these tvvo rovvly povvlies: they shal be thy Damons and thou their Pithy-asse; […] — 1601

adjective2

•
(informal, humorous) Short and plump; squat.
- She had been waiting for the little roly-poly man to tumble and roll along the deck, and had been mentally indulging her sense of humour on the scene. — 1867
•
Moving with a rolling and swaying motion.
- Seianus bowed, the awkward roly-poly jerk of the fat man. — 1966

adverb2

•
By rolling, so as to roll.
- Tom Kitten bit and spat, and mewed and wriggled; and the rolling-pin went roly-poly, roly; roly, poly, roly. — 1908
•
(no longer used) Without hesitating; directly; hence, in a thoughtless manner; indiscriminately.
- At your pleasure thats rare; then rovvlie, povvlie, our vviues shall lye at your commaund: […] — 1601

forms

roly-polies · roly-polys · more roly-poly · most roly-poly

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