roly-poly
A toy that rights itself when pushed over.
(informal) A short, plump person (especially a child).
(gymnastics) A forward roll or sideways roll.
(Australia) Any plant which habitually breaks away from its roots once dry, forming a light, rolling mass which is driven by the wind from place to place; specifically, the prickly Russian thistle (Kali tragus or Salsola tragus).
(British) A baked or steamed pudding made from suet pastry which is spread with fruit or jam (or occasionally other fillings) and then rolled up.
"Fanny has made the roly-poly pudding," says he; "the chops are my part. Here's a fine one; try this, Goldmore."
The three mutton-chops consumed by him were best of the mutton kind; the potatoes were perfect of their order; as for the roly-poly, it was too good.
(Canada, US) A small terrestrial invertebrate which tends to roll into a ball when disturbed, such as a woodlouse (suborder Oniscidea, especially a pill bug (family Armadillidiidae) or a sowbug (family Porcellionidae)) or a pill millipede (superorder Oniscomorpha).
A roly-poly had found his way inside the house; I reasoned that the tiny varmint had crawled up the steps. […] The creatures are no more than an inch long, and when you touch them they roll themselves into a tight gray ball.
(obsolete) A mischievous or worthless person; a scoundrel, a rascal.
(historical) An activity or game involving rolling.
(games) A game involving people (usually children) rolling down a slope.
(games) A game in which balls are rolled along the floor to knock down pins, or bowled into holes, or thrown into hats placed on the ground.
(gaming) A game of chance in which a small ball is made to move round rapidly on a circle divided off into numbered red and black spaces, the one on which it stops indicating the result of a variety of wagers permitted by the game.
Moving with a rolling and swaying motion.
(often childish or humorous, informal) Short and plump; squat.
By rolling, so as to roll.
(obsolete) Without hesitating; directly; hence, in a thoughtless manner; indiscriminately.
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