Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

golliwog

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.49 in modern English

Syllables
gol-li-wog
IPA
13
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A rag doll or mascot in the form of a caricature of a black minstrel.

noun

A black person.

Dated; Offensive

noun

A hairy caterpillar.

Australian usage

noun

A receiver of stolen goods.

noun

Greyhound racing: the jolly dogs.

Slang

Example Sentences

Etymology

Perhaps a blend of golly + polliwog Coined for the illustrations by Florence Kate Upton for her mother Bertha Upton′s 1895 children′s book, The Adventures of Two Dutch Dolls — and a ‘Golliwogg’.

Usage

Inflected Forms

Frequently Paired Words

wog

Synonyms

Questions

What does golliwog mean?
A rag doll or mascot in the form of a caricature of a black minstrel.
Where does golliwog come from?
Perhaps a blend of golly + polliwog Coined for the illustrations by Florence Kate Upton for her mother Bertha Upton′s 1895 children′s book, The Adventures of Two Dutch Dolls — and a ‘Golliwogg’.

How to pronounce golliwog

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “golliwog”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “golliwog”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “golliwog” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.