golly

[ gol-ee ]

interjection

, Informal.

1. (used as a mild exclamation expressing surprise, wonder, puzzlement, pleasure, or the like.)

golly

¹

/ ˈɡɒlɪ /

verb

1. to spit

noun

1. a gob of spit

golly

²

/ ˈɡɒlɪ /

interjection

1. an exclamation of mild surprise or wonder

golly

³

/ ˈɡɒlɪ /

noun

1. See golliwog
   informal.
   short for golliwog

Word History and Origins

Origin of golly¹

First recorded in 1840–50; euphemistic alteration of God

Word History and Origins

Origin of golly¹

C20: altered from gollion a gob of phlegm, probably of imitative origin

Origin of golly²

C19: originally a euphemism for God

Example Sentences

Sure, her gee-golly choreography is unbearable cute, but watch her eyes.

From The Daily Beast

In its golly-gosh sincerity, the Dunham ad, by contrast, helps to remind young women that they are empowered sexual beings.

From The Daily Beast

"Gotta appeal to independents, but my gosh golly gumsticks, I can't offend the base..." So what happened next?

From The Daily Beast

And Yahoo above all reminds us just how unromantic and unforgiving the golly-gee world of new technology is.

From The Daily Beast

He was humble and patient, an earnest man simply trying, by golly, to do his level best for others.

From The Daily Beast

If dat preacher goes to run a bar agin me,” he says, “py golly, I makes no more moneys!

From Project Gutenberg

"Golly, but she's a gold dollar in a gold bank," remarked Jesse Bulrush warmly as he lurched into the street.

From Project Gutenberg

"By golly, I wouldn't go and feel that foolish again, not if yuh paid me for it," Slim declared.

From Project Gutenberg

"By golly, I want t' have a talk with that there broncho-tamer," Slim growled behind them.

From Project Gutenberg

"He didn't need no field glass to see you was a suspicious character, by golly," chortled Slim.

From Project Gutenberg