rolf

¹ American  

[rolf] / rɒlf /

verb (used without object)

Slang.

1. to vomit.

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Rolf ² American  

[rawlf, rolf] / rɔlf, rɒlf /

verb (used with object)

1. to massage using the techniques of Rolfing.

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Rolf ³ American  

[rolf] / rɒlf /

noun

1. Also called Rolf the Ganger.  Rollo.

2. a male given name: from Scandinavian words meaning “glory” and “wolf.”

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Rolf British  

/ rɒlf /

noun

1. other names for Rollo

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Other Word Forms

• Rolfer noun

Etymology

Origin of rolf¹

1970–75, apparently variant of ralph

Origin of Rolf²

1965–70; after Ida P. Rolf (1897–1979), U.S. physiotherapist who invented the techniques

Example Sentences

"We've had to stop bookings... from and to the upper Gulf region because we can't get the ships in nor out," said Rolf Habben Jansen, chief executive of major container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd last week, estimating the war had driven up costs by "$40, 50 million per week".

From Barron's

“Whilst the willingness to buy and the willingness to save are currently showing little reaction to the geopolitical events in Iran, consumers expect inflation to rise again due to higher energy prices, and the economic recovery to be slowed once more,” said Rolf Buerkl, head of consumer climate at NIM.

From The Wall Street Journal

“At the beginning of 2026, adverse weather conditions weighed on our performance and the conflict in the Middle East is now causing considerable network disruptions and sharply increasing operational costs,” Chief Executive Officer Rolf Habben Jansen said.

From The Wall Street Journal

He was a tall man with close-cropped orange-red hair whom I knew by name—Rolf van Vliet—but little else.

From Literature

Rolf had brought in a watch that needed cleaning, and he seemed in a mood to talk.

From Literature

Related Words

• caress
• pat
• rub