golliwogg

or gol·li·wog

[ gol-ee-wog ]

noun

, (sometimes initial capital letter)

1. a grotesque black doll.
2. a grotesque person.

Word History and Origins

Origin of golliwogg¹

First recorded in 1890–95; after the name of a doll in an illustrated series of children's books by Bertha Upton (died 1912), U.S. writer, and Florence Upton (died 1922), illustrator

Example Sentences

Debussy, in Paris, cashed in on the popularity of cakewalk piano rags, with his ‘Golliwogg’s Cakewalk’ of 1908 - which incidentally also includes a jokey musical quotation from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.

From Literature

The Knights played three of the six movements: “Serenade of the Doll,” “The Little Shepherd” and “Golliwogg’s Cakewalk.”

From New York Times

Class C Winner Glory was one of his boats; so was Golliwogg, runner-up to Finisterre for the overall trophy.

From Time Magazine Archive

The biggest ovation was reserved for Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose new frizzy hairdo made her look like a genial golliwogg.

From Time Magazine Archive

Cries Sarah Jane; "The 'Golliwogg' my dear."

From Project Gutenberg