dolly

adj

Etymology: Disputed. Most scholars derive the term from doll + -y, as Etymology 1, above. Linguist Ian Hancock, however, suggests derivation from Italian dolce (“sweet”).

1. Pretty; attractive.

   “Divine. Sitting, sipping a tiny drinkette, vadaïng the great butch omis and dolly little palones trolling by, or disporting yourself on the sable plage getting your lallies all bronzed - your riah getting bleached by the soleil.”

   “She minces past the brandy latch / to vada dolly dish for trade, silly / with oomph and taste to park.”

2. Left-handed (also dolly-handed, dolly-pawed, dolly-posh).

name

1. A diminutive of the female given names Dorothy, Dolores, or Doris.

   “Her name is Dorothy, though everyone has always called her Dolly. I do not know why, for there is nothing doll-like about her. She is a large, vigorous woman with the broad face and heavy hair of a tinker's wife.”

noun

1. Ellipsis of Dolly Parton.
2. Ellipsis of Dolly Varden trout.

   “Dolly Varden is the staple catch. To a point that, after two days, we find ourselves feeling guilty trying to shake them free from our fly or giving plenty of slack in the hope that another Dolly finds early freedom. […] Often the biggest challenge of hooking a big trout is avoiding Dollies.”

verb

Etymology: From doll + -y, from the given name Dorothy, originally applied either to a woman or female pet or to a children's toy, and expanded to refer to various types of contrivances or devices. The Online Etymology Dictionary, while considering the reason for applying it to such devices unobvious, compares how the names jack, jenny and jimmy are also applied to devices.

1. To hit a dolly.
2. To move (an object) using a dolly.
3. To move a camera (usually toward or away from its subject) using a dolly.
4. To wash (laundry) in a tub using the stirring device called a dolly.
5. To beat (red-hot metal) with a hammer.
6. To crush ore with a dolly.
7. To make somebody or something look attractive.

   “Referring to the "hero of the day," No. 92220, Mr. Hanks acceded that she was not of the Great Western breed, but they had done their best to make up for that by "dollying her up in good old Western colours and conferring upon her the finest honour we can—the halo or crown of Swindon, the copper top to her chimney."”