golly

golly
   a mild oath
   Perhaps the commonest corruption of God, a usage anticipating by some 40 years Florence Upton's Golliwog books, in which the black hero came to the rescue of the Dutch Dolls.
   Other such corruptions included goles, golles, gollin, golls, gom, gommy, goms, gomz, goom, gull, and gum, of which by gum is a lone survivor.

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • golly — euphemism for God, first recorded 1775, in a source that refers to it as a sort of jolly kind of oath, or asseveration much in use among our carters, & the lowest people …   Etymology dictionary

  • golly — ► EXCLAMATION informal ▪ used to express surprise or delight. ORIGIN euphemism for GOD(Cf. ↑godward) …   English terms dictionary

  • golly — [gäl′ē] interj. used to express surprise, wonder, etc.: orig. a euphemism for God …   English World dictionary

  • golly — [[t]gɒ̱li[/t]] 1) EXCLAM (feelings) Some people say golly to indicate that they are very surprised by something. [INFORMAL, OLD FASHIONED] Golly, he says, Isn t it exciting! 2) EXCLAM (emphasis) Some people say by golly to emphasize that… …   English dictionary

  • golly — I UK [ˈɡɒlɪ] / US [ˈɡɑlɪ] interjection informal old fashioned used for expressing surprise or slight worry • by golly II UK [ˈɡɒlɪ] / US [ˈɡɑlɪ] noun [countable] Word forms golly : singular golly plural gollies informal a golliwog …   English dictionary

  • golly — gol|ly1 [ gali ] interjection INFORMAL OLD FASHIONED used for expressing surprise or slight worry by golly used for emphasizing what you are saying golly gol|ly 2 [ gali ] noun count INFORMAL a GOLLIWOG …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • golly — interjection Etymology: euphemism for God Date: 1775 used as a mild oath or to express surprise; usually used in the phrase by golly …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • golly — gol|ly1 [ˈgɔli US ˈga:li] interjection spoken old use [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: god] used to express surprise = ↑gosh golly 2 golly2 plural gollies n informal a golliwog …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Golly! — int An interjection of emphasis (euphemism for God ). Golly, that was a good breakfast. 1770s …   Historical dictionary of American slang

  • golly — oh, gee, gosh    Golly! I ve never seen so much snow …   English idioms

  • golly — I. /ˈgɒli/ (say golee) interjection Colloquial (a mild expletive expressing surprise, etc.) {a euphemistic variant of God!} II. /ˈgɒli/ (say golee) noun → golliwog1. III. /ˈgɒli/ (say golee) …  

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