roly-poly

A toy that rights itself when pushed over.

BOBO The Roly Poly Clown / Punch him—beat him—tackle him—Bobo will bounce right back with a smile!

Among the many adaptations of the Japanese tumbler toy are those known to American children as a roly-poly and a Kelly.

A short, plump person (especially a child).

The Germans have a great idea that you must "stärken (strengthen)" yourself. So they eat every few hours. […] The German women are plump roly-polies, as a general rule, and it is probably in consequence of this continual "strengthening."

In a few weeks 'our baby' was a regular roly-poly, fat and frolicsome. Has she forgotten all the neglect? God grant it.

A forward roll or sideways roll.

When you are finished with circle time, dismiss your children by helping each one do a roly-poly roll (a somersault) and roll away to their next activity.

Children of this age can rarely complete a forward roll or somersault properly. […] A ‘roly poly’ roll or a tucked sideways roll will give the children just as much pleasure and also enough exercise and knowlege of turning and rolling at this stage of their development.

Synonym of tumbleweed (“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 tragu

A baked or steamed pudding made from suet pastry which is spread with fruit or jam (or occasionally other fillings) and then rolled up.

[page 135] "Fanny has made the roly-poly pudding," says he; "the chops are my part. Here's a fine one; try this, Goldmore." […] [page 137] 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.

And he hates rabbit, and never touches roly-poly, and I must say the beef isn't over tender; […] Dinner began and proceeded till the last piece of the roly-poly pudding was consumed, though not by Cyril; […]

Moving with a rolling and swaying motion.

"Oh! Mother, Mother, there has been an old man rat in the dairy—a dreadful 'normous big rat, mother; and he's stolen a pat of butter and the rolling-pin." […] "A rolling-pin?" said Ribby. "Did we not hear a roly-poly noise in the attic when we were looking into that chest?" Ribby and Tabitha rushed upstairs again. Sure enough the roly-poly noise was still going on quite distinctly under the attic floor.

Seianus bowed, the awkward roly-poly jerk of the fat man.

Short and plump; squat.

She had been waiting for the little roly-poly man to tumble and roll along the deck, and had been mentally indulging her sense of humour on the scene.

He ducked back down the alley / With some roly-poly little bat-faced girl

By rolling, so as to roll.

Tom Kitten bit and spat, and mewed and wriggled; and the rolling-pin went roly-poly, roly; roly, poly, roly.

Without hesitating; directly; hence, in a thoughtless manner; indiscriminately.

At your pleaſure thats rare; then rovvlie, povvlie, our vviues ſhall lye at your commaund: […]