adj
Meaning 1
Pretty; attractive.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Polari
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
dolly
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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General-American: /ˈdɑli/
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Received-Pronunciation: /ˈdɒli/
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Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -ɒli
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CMU ARPABET: D AA1 L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
adj
Meaning 2
Left-handed (also dolly-handed, dolly-pawed, dolly-posh).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Sheffield, Yorkshire, especially
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
Meaning 3
A diminutive of the female given names Dorothy, Dolores, or Doris.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
A doll.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: childish, colloquial
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
A roughly cylindrical wooden object used as a base when molding pie crust.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: cooking, food, lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
A contrivance for stirring:
A disc with downward legs and a vertical handle, used for agitating laundry.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: posser
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 7
A contrivance for stirring:
A device turned on a vertical axis by a handle or a winch, giving a circular motion to ore being washed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 8
A tool with an indented head for shaping the head of a rivet.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 9
In pile driving, a block interposed between the head of the pile and the ram of the driver.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 10
A small truck with a single wide roller used for moving heavy beams, columns, etc., in bridge building.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 11
A small truck without means of steering, to be slipped under a load.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 12
An unpowered vehicle (trailer) designed for connection to a tractor unit, truck or prime mover vehicle, with strong traction power.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 13
A compact, narrow-gauge locomotive used for moving construction trains, switching, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 14
A specialized piece of film equipment resembling a little cart on which a camera is mounted.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: broadcasting, film, media, television
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 15
A young woman, especially one who is frivolous or vapid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 16
A fashionable young woman, one who follows the latest music or clothing fashions.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, dated, slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 17
A ball hit by a batsman such that it goes gently to a fielder for a simple catch.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated
Topics: ball-games, cricket, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 18
A marker placed on the winning number by the dealer at roulette.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: gambling, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 19
Ellipsis of dolly shop.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 20
An old gambling device, found in dolly shops, with the figure of an old man or "dolly", and a spiral hole down which a dropped marble would proceed to one of a set of numbered holes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 21
An offering of fruit or flowers.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: India
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 22
Ellipsis of Dolly Parton.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Topics: card-games, poker
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 23
Ellipsis of Dolly Varden trout.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 24
To hit a dolly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: ball-games, cricket, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 25
To move (an object) using a dolly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 26
To move a camera (usually toward or away from its subject) using a dolly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 27
To wash (laundry) in a tub using the stirring device called a dolly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 28
To beat (red-hot metal) with a hammer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 29
To crush ore with a dolly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 30
To make somebody or something look attractive.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: often, with-up
Qualifier: and dolly bird
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 31
a small replica of a person; used as a toy
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: doll
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: plaything, toy
Narrower terms: golliwog, golliwogg, kachina, paper doll, puppet, rag doll, sawdust doll, toy soldier
noun
Meaning 32
conveyance consisting of a wheeled platform for moving heavy objects
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: conveyance, transport
noun
Meaning 33
conveyance consisting of a wheeled support on which a camera can be mounted
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: conveyance, transport
History
Etymology
Disputed. Most scholars derive the term from doll + -y, as Etymology 1, above. Linguist Ian Hancock, however, suggests derivation from Italian dolce (“sweet”).
From doll + -y, from the given name Dorothy, originally applied either to a woman or female pet or to a children's toy, and expanded to refer to various types of contrivances or devices. The Online Etymology Dictionary, while considering the reason for applying it to such devices unobvious, compares how the names jack, jenny and jimmy are also applied to devices.
From Hindi डाली (ḍālī).
Across languages
Translations
22 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Finnish: iskutyyny — pile driving: block between the head of the pile and the ram of the driver
- Finnish: rattaat — small truck
- Polish: wózek transportowy — small truck
- Russian: та́чка (táčka) — small truck
- Russian: теле́жка (teléžka) — small truck
- Russian: до́лли (dólli) — small truck
- Spanish: zorra — small truck
- Spanish: carretilla — small truck
- Turkish: domuz arabası — small truck
- French: diabolo — dollytrailer
- Spanish: diábolo — dollytrailer
- Spanish: plataforma rodante — dollytrailer
- Spanish: conector de remolques — dollytrailer
- Spanish: carreta enganchadora — dollytrailer
- Spanish: dresina — compact, narrow-gauge locomotive
- Finnish: kameravaunu — filming: camera cart
- Japanese: ドリー (dorī) — filming: camera cart
- Russian: опера́торская теле́жка (operátorskaja teléžka) — filming: camera cart
- Spanish: trávelin — filming: camera cart
- Spanish: travelling — filming: camera cart
- Spanish: travelín — filming: camera cart
- Finnish: pimu — frivolous or vapid young woman
Real reading context