golly

interjection

1. 1

   A mild expression of surprise or enthusiasm.

   Golly! That was a long trip to California.

   “Golly! What would dad say if I did marry him?”

   “By golly, I don′t see how you done that without seein′ it happen,” exclaimed Slim, looking very dazed and mystified.

noun

1. 1

   Abbreviation of golliwog:. A type of black rag doll.

   1985, New Society, Volumes 71-72, page 4, 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.

   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.

2. 2

   Abbreviation of golliwog:. Any dark-skinned person.

   “Bloody gollies!” muttered David Bromhead, provoked by the assault into bitter xenophobia.

   […]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.

noun

1. 1

   A galosh.

verb

1. 1

   To spit; to force up phlegm from one's throat.

   When he saw what was happening he threw down his bag, gollied up some phlegm, and spat into the sand.

noun

1. 1

   slangChewing gum.

2. 2

   slangSaliva or phlegm.

   hack up a golly

   They had to have a spitting competition. They had to hack gollies at each other′s heads.[…](Abraham 1999, 53)

Forms

plural

gollies

past tense

gollied

past participle

gollied

present participle

gollying

third person singular

gollies