-ola

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a formative of no precise significance found in a variety of commercial coinages (Crayola; granola; Victrola) and jocular variations of words (crapola).

a suffix extracted from payola, used in coinages that have the general sense “bribery, especially covert payments to an entertainment figure in return for promoting a product, making an appearance, etc.” (playola; plugola).

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of -ola

Apparently <Italian or Latin -ola diminutive suffix; see -ole¹, -ule

How to use -ola in a sentence

A woman in Nashville whose husband just graduated from law school and is making $37,000 called their life a “strugg-ola.”
‘Walmart Moms’ Are Furious With Washington|Eleanor Clift|October 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I connected with OLA, along with several co-conspirators, a few weeks after the encampment began on the Sukkot holiday.
A Year On: Occupy L.A. And God|Aryeh Cohen|September 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Some of the leadership and folks of OLA were deeply suspicious of religious involvement.
A Year On: Occupy L.A. And God|Aryeh Cohen|September 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Our initial gathering morphed into the Interfaith Sanctuary at OLA.
A Year On: Occupy L.A. And God|Aryeh Cohen|September 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Among the participants was Ola Abdelrahman, a 15-year-old from New Jersey, who was taking the memory plunge for the second time.
Following Joshua Foer to the USA Memory Championship|Rob Verger|April 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
At this moment Grim entered, and perceived at once that Ola Klemmerud was amusing the company at his son's expense.
Boyhood in Norway|Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen
Whereupon he knocked off Ola's cap, rumpled his hair, and gave his nose such a pull that it was a wonder it did not come off.
Boyhood in Norway|Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen
Ola Simonsen having been safely deposited on board, Nils Petter handed up a number of items in addition.
Dry Fish and Wet|Anthon Bernhard Elias Nilsen
Ola, noticing the direction of his glance, observed consolingly that it ought to be a welcome present.
Dry Fish and Wet|Anthon Bernhard Elias Nilsen
At last I nodded to Ola Bugta; but he didn't nod back; he just turned his quid in his mouth.
What Happened to Inger Johanne|Dikken Zwilgmeyer