golliwog
(ˈgɒlɪwɒg)
Also gollywog, Golliwogg.
[perh. suggested by golly int. (= God) and polliwog, pollywog (dial. and U.S., = tadpole).]
A name invented for a black-faced grotesquely dressed (male) doll with a shock of fuzzy hair. Also shortened ˈgolly, Golly. Also attrib. and Comb.
| 1895 B. Upton (title) The adventures of two Dutch Dolls—and a ‘Golliwogg’. 1904 Woman's Life 7 May 227/1 One of her hobbies is the collecting of those quaint, but unbeautiful, dolls known as Gollywogs. 1907 Westm. Gaz. 28 May 10/2 A clever golliwogg dance received the enthusiastic applause it deserved. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 347 Madcap Ciss with her golliwog curls. 1925 E. F. Norton Fight for Everest, 1924 104 Every now and then I was struck afresh with the absurdly ‘gollywog’ appearance of the party. 1934 Neuphilologische Mitteilungen XXXV. 130 Abbreviated forms such as golly ‘gollywog’. 1956 G. Durrell Drunken Forest vi. 126 We came to the police-station,..shaded by a large, golliwog-headed palm tree. 1969 I. Kemp Brit. G.I. in Vietnam viii. 161 A short, slightly-built negro whose appearance reminded me of one of those golliwogs that decorate the labels of Robertson's marmalade jars. |