polliwog

or pol·ly·wog

[ pol-ee-wog ]

noun

1. a tadpole.

polliwog

/ ˈpɒlɪˌwɒɡ /

noun

1. dialect.
   another name for tadpole
2. informal.
   a sailor who has not crossed the equator Compare shellback

Word History and Origins

Origin of polliwog¹

First recorded in 1400–50; variant of polliwig, earlier polwigge, late Middle English polwygle; poll ¹, wiggle

Word History and Origins

Origin of polliwog¹

C15 polwygle; see poll , wiggle

Example Sentences

The result was one of those quick india-rubber scuffles fearful to behold, but delightful to human nature in its polliwog state.

From Project Gutenberg

The result was one of those quick India-rubber scuffles fearful to behold but delightful to human nature in its polliwog state.

From Project Gutenberg

The growing polliwog feeds on vegetable diet; what does the full grown frog eat?

From Project Gutenberg

The chatter of society has succeeded that of the goose and the polliwog.

From Project Gutenberg

Old forms of polliwog are pollywig, polewiggle, and 242 pollwiggle.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• frog