-ola

1. a formative of no precise significance found in a variety of commercial coinages ( Crayola; granola; Victrola ) and jocular variations of words ( crapola ).
2. 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 ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ola¹

Apparently < Italian or Latin -ola diminutive suffix; -ole ¹, -ule

Example Sentences

A woman in Nashville whose husband just graduated from law school and is making $37,000 called their life a “strugg-ola.”

From The Daily Beast

I connected with OLA, along with several co-conspirators, a few weeks after the encampment began on the Sukkot holiday.

From The Daily Beast

Some of the leadership and folks of OLA were deeply suspicious of religious involvement.

From The Daily Beast

Our initial gathering morphed into the Interfaith Sanctuary at OLA.

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

At this moment Grim entered, and perceived at once that Ola Klemmerud was amusing the company at his son's expense.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

Ola Simonsen having been safely deposited on board, Nils Petter handed up a number of items in addition.

From Project Gutenberg

Ola, noticing the direction of his glance, observed consolingly that it ought to be a welcome present.

From Project Gutenberg

At last I nodded to Ola Bugta; but he didn't nod back; he just turned his quid in his mouth.

From Project Gutenberg