roly-poly

[ roh-lee-poh-lee, -poh-lee ]

adjective

1. short and plumply round, as a person or a young animal.

   Synonyms: pudgy, rotund, fat

   Antonyms: scrawny

noun

, plural ro·ly-po·lies.

1. a roly-poly person or thing.
2. Chiefly British. a sheet of biscuit dough spread with jam, fruit, or the like, rolled up and steamed or baked.

roly-poly

/ ˈrəʊlɪˈpəʊlɪ /

adjective

1. plump, buxom, or rotund

noun

1. a strip of suet pastry spread with jam, fruit, or a savoury mixture, rolled up, and baked or steamed as a pudding
2. a plump, buxom, or rotund person
3. See tumbleweed
   an informal name for tumbleweed

Word History and Origins

Origin of roly-poly¹

1595–1605; earlier rowle powle, rowly-powly worthless fellow, game involving rolling balls, rhyming compound based on roll (v.); for second element poll ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of roly-poly¹

C17: apparently by reduplication from roly , from roll

Example Sentences

No one ever forgot the roly-poly pudding made without suet; synthetic rubber was its scientific name.

From Project Gutenberg

In the shape of pigs—fat, roly-poly and cute—they scampered off a little distance and sat down to think about their new condition.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a roly-poly little man; over seventy now but still healthy-looking, with an apple-cheeked, sunburned face.

From Project Gutenberg

Roast stuffed duckling with baked potatoes, string beans and brussels sprouts, jam roly-poly and coffee!

From Project Gutenberg

"Her folks are going to travel this summer so we can't have our little roly-poly Madaline with us," she explained.

From Project Gutenberg