rollick

American  

[rol-ik] / ˈrɒl ɪk /

verb (used without object)

1. to move or act in a carefree, lively, or joyful manner.

   The foals rollicked in the pasture.

   The concert-goers rollicked until the wee hours.

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rollick British  

/ ˈrɒlɪk /

verb

1. (intr) to behave in a carefree, frolicsome, or boisterous manner

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noun

1. a boisterous or carefree escapade or event

Other Word Forms

• rollicker
  noun

Etymology

Origin of rollick

First recorded in 1820–30; origin uncertain, perhaps blend of romp and frolic

Explanation

When you rollick, you have a fabulously fun time. You probably won't rollick during quiet reading time at school, but you'll have a chance to rollick at your best friend's roller disco party. People rollick during parties and dances, while they play active games, and even when they're watching hilariously funny movies. You can also say cavort, revel, or frolic—and experts guess that rollick comes from a combination of the words frolic and roll. The adjective rollicking is more common than the verb, and predates it by about 15 years.

Example Sentences

Rollick and roll in the feathery fleece Plucked out of the breasts of the marvelous geese By the little old woman who lives in the sky; Have ever you seen her?

From Child Songs of Cheer by Inglis, Antoinette

Rollick, rol′lik, v.i. to move or act with a careless, swaggering, frolicsome air:—pr.p. rol′licking; pa.p. rol′licked.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

Your Uncle Jack says he has done wonders with his newspaper; though Mr. Rollick grumbles, and declares that it is full of theories, and that it puzzles the farmers.

From The Caxtons — Complete by Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron