Definitions For Golly

Etymology 1

Euphemism for God, dating from the 18th century. Possibly a compaction of “God′s body”.

Alternative forms

gollies

Interjection

(euphemistic) God! From 1775.

Synonyms

Etymology 2

From golliwog.

Noun

GOLLY (plural gollies) A type of black rag doll. 1985, w:new society, new society, Volumes 71-72, , : There are pictures of the original “gollywogg” (thus spelt) from Florence Upton′s 19th century children′s books; there are examples of anti-semitic Edwardian gollies with huge noses, and all sorts of other curiosities. 2007, w:richard littlejohn, richard littlejohn, Littlejohn′s Britain, , : The Golliwog Squad was also making itself busy in Worthing, Sussex. Police said they were treating as a matter of ‘priority’ a complaint about gollies being displayed in a local store. Owner John Scadgell faced charges under Section 2 of the Public Order Act, which makes it an offence to exhibit anything which could be considered threatening, abusive or insulting. (offensive, ethnic slur) Any dark skinned person. 2005, Richard Snailham, The Blue Nile Revealed: The Story of the Great Abbai Expedition, 1968, , : “Bloody gollies!” muttered David Bromhead, provoked by the assault into bitter xenophobia. 2008, Theo van Leeuwen, Discourse and Practice: New Tools for Critical Analysis, , : poked fun at the American “fashion” of “political correctness” and reassured viewers that gollies and black minstrel shows are just good, old-fashioned, innocent fun.

Etymology 3

Nonstandard appendix:glossary#diminutive, diminutive of galosh.

Noun

GOLLY (plural gollies) (UK) A galosh.

Etymology 4

Possibly from Goliath.

Verb

goll , ies (Australia, juvenile) To spit; to force up phlegm from one's throat.

Noun

GOLLY (plural gollies) (Australian slang, juvenile) Chewing gum. (Australian slang, juvenile) Saliva or phlegm. : hack up a golly

Derived terms

golly pot Etymology 5 Possibly from the Swahili for "expensive," [ghali] uttered when a potential slave buyer thought a slave's price was too high.