roly-poly
Moving with a rolling and swaying motion.
Definitions
UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK
Moving with a rolling and swaying motion.
"Oh! Mother, Mother, there has been an old man rat in the dairy—a dreadful 'normous big rat, mother; and he's stolen a pat of butter and the rolling-pin." "A rolling-pin?" said Ribby. "Did we not hear a roly-poly noise in the attic when …
Heard in the wild
“:p I like to think of you as "roly-poly fun", honestly.”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK
(uncountable, historical) An activity or game involving rolling.
Origin: The is apparently derived from , with a change of the initial . Compare rolly, which is attested since the 19th century. (“mischievous or worthless person”) is possibly influenced by poll. The and are attested later than the noun, and so are probably derived from it. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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UK
#3·Apr 27, 2026UK
(often, childish, or, humorous, informal) Short and plump; squat.
Seianus bowed, the awkward roly-poly jerk of the fat man.
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Other words near "roly-poly" (R)
rolloverRolls-Royceroll up onroll up the sidewalksrollyrolongRomabooRomanRoman EmpireromanetteRomanistromanticizing
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