English
golly
Interjection
  1. (euphemistic) God! [From 1775.]
    • 1898, The Overland Monthly, [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=u78RAAAAYAAJ&q=%22golly%22|%22gollies%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&dq=%22golly%22|%22gollies%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eRpjT4S3GIK4iAfd2uDrBQ&redir_esc=y page 511],
      “Golly! What would dad say if I did marry him?”
Synonyms
  • seeSynonyms en
Noun

golly (plural gollies)

  1. Abbreviation of golliwog#English|golliwog:
    1. A type of black rag doll.
      • 1985, New Society, Volumes 71-72, [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=66opAQAAIAAJ&q=%22gollying%22|%22gollies%22|%22gollied%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&dq=%22gollying%22|%22gollies%22|%22gollied%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2iFjT5LUE8WViAfSprHABQ&redir_esc=y 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.
      • 2007, Richard Littlejohn, Littlejohn′s Britain, [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=jMOlE4u8Ku4C&pg=PA162&dq=%22gollying%22|%22gollies%22|%22gollied%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=KzhjT86nEoHIrQeAs7i9Bw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22gollying%22|%22gollies%22|%22gollied%22%20-intitle%3A%22%22%20-inauthor%3A%22%22&f=false page 162],
        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. (offensive, ethnic slur) Any dark skinned person.
      • 2005, Richard Snailham, The Blue Nile Revealed: The Story of the Great Abbai Expedition, 1968, [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=l7pqm4qQBgQC&pg=PA217&dq=%22gollying%22|%22gollies%22|%22gollied%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zz5jT7WuNrCWiQe5vaT6BQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22gollying%22|%22gollies%22|%22gollied%22%20-intitle%3A%22%22%20-inauthor%3A%22%22&f=false page 217],
        “Bloody gollies!” muttered David Bromhead, provoked by the assault into bitter xenophobia.
      • 2008, Theo van Leeuwen, Discourse and Practice: New Tools for Critical Analysis, [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=hD_MBrzjcLgC&pg=PA137&dq=%22gollying%22|%22gollies%22|%22gollied%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xEFjT5jkN-2wiQf_qqm_BQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22gollying%22|%22gollies%22|%22gollied%22%20-intitle%3A%22%22%20-inauthor%3A%22%22&f=false page 137],
        […] 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

golly (plural gollies)

  1. (UK) A galosh.
Verb

golly

  1. (Australia, juvenile) To spit; to force up phlegm from one's throat.
    • 2010, Marion Houldsworth, The Morning Side of the Hill: Growing Up in Townsville in World War II, revised edition, [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=vnQmkKW0fm0C&pg=PA113&dq=%22gollying%22|%22gollies%22|%22gollied%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=EkZjT8ukFYyyiQfD9tDjDg&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22gollying%22|%22gollies%22|%22gollied%22%20-intitle%3A%22%22%20-inauthor%3A%22%22&f=false page 113],
      When he saw what was happening he threw down his bag, gollied up some phlegm, and spat into the sand.
Noun

golly (plural gollies)

  1. (Australian slang, juvenile) Chewing gum.
  2. (Australian slang, juvenile) Saliva or phlegm.
    hack up a golly


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