boloney

[ buh-loh-nee ]

/ bəˈloʊ ni /

noun

baloney.

Nearby words

Origin of boloney

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

baloney

or bo·lo·ney

[ buh-loh-nee ]

/ bəˈloʊ ni /

noun

Slang. foolishness; nonsense.

Informal. bologna.

interjection

Slang. nonsense.

Origin of baloney

1915–20, Americanism; 1925–30 for def 2; alteration of bologna, with substitution of -ey² for final schwa

Can be confusedbologna baloney

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for boloney

boloney

/ (bəˈləʊnɪ) /

noun

a variant spelling of baloney

mainly US another name for bologna sausage

baloney

boloney

/ (bəˈləʊnɪ) /

noun

informal foolish talk; nonsense

mainly US another name for bologna sausage

Word Origin for baloney

C20: changed from Bologna (sausage)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for boloney

boloney

see baloney.

baloney

1894, variant of bologna sausage (q.v.). As slang for "nonsense," 1922, American English (popularized 1930s by N.Y. Gov. Alfred E. Smith; in this sense sometimes said to have been one of the coinages of legendary "Variety" staffer Jack Conway), from earlier sense of "idiot" (by 1915), perhaps influenced by blarney, but usually regarded as being from the sausage, as a type traditionally made from odds and ends. It also was ring slang early 20c. for an inferior fighter.

The aristocratic Kid's first brawl for sugar was had in Sandusky, Odryo, with a boloney entitled Young Du Fresne. He gave the green and nervous Kid a proper pastin' for six rounds and the disgusted Dummy sold me his find for a hundred bucks, leavin' the clubhouse just in time to miss seein' the boy get stung, get mad, and win by a knockout. [H.C. Witwer, "The Leather Pushers," "Colliers," Oct. 16, 1920]