lolly

IPA/ˈlɒli/
KK[lˈɑli]IPA/ˈlɑːli/

lolly — noun

  • lollysingular
  • lolliesplural

1. a frozen or hard sweet snack that is fixed onto a small stick so that it can be

1.nounA2
Definition

a frozen or hard sweet snack that is fixed onto a small stick so that it can be held while being eaten — for example, a frozen ice lolly made from flavoured juice or ice cream, or a hard round lollipop made from boiled sugar.

Example

Mum bought Hugo an ice lolly from the shop on a hot summer afternoon.

ice lolly as a countable frozen treat

The children each chose a different coloured lolly from the box at the party.

countable: a + [colour] + lolly

Common collocations
  • ice lolly
  • strawberry lolly
  • lemon lolly
  • orange lolly
  • rainbow lollipop
Synonyms
  • lollipop

    specifically refers to the hard candy type on a stick

  • ice lolly

    specifically the frozen type; this is the full British term

  • popsicle

    standard American English term for frozen sweet on a stick

Grammar Patterns

[countable] a [flavour] lolly

[countable] an ice lolly

Usage Note

In British English, lolly can mean either a frozen ice lolly or a hard lollipop on a stick. In American English, the frozen type is called a popsicle and the hard candy type is a lollipop; lolly alone is rarely used.

Common Mistakes

I bought a lolly at the American store.
I bought a popsicle / lollipop at the American store.
In American English, lolly alone is uncommon and may cause confusion.
The baby sucked on a lolly.
The baby sucked on a lollipop.
Lolly as a shorthand for lollipop is British; in other varieties, the meaning may be unclear.

2. a small piece of sweet candy that comes wrapped in paper or plastic, designed to

2.nounA2
Definition

a small piece of sweet candy that comes wrapped in paper or plastic, designed to be sucked on or chewed.

Example

Grandma always kept a bowl of fruit lollies on her coffee table for visitors.

collocation: a bowl of lollies

Diego unwrapped a lemon lolly and popped it into his mouth before class.

collocation: unwrap a lolly

Common collocations
  • fruit lollies
  • lemon lolly
  • strawberry lolly
  • a bag of lollies
  • a bowl of lollies
Synonyms
  • sweet

    more general term; sweet is the standard British word for any candy

  • candy

    standard American equivalent

Grammar Patterns

[countable] a [flavour] lolly

[countable] a bag / bowl of lollies

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 refers to small wrapped sweets that are not on a stick. In American English, the equivalent word is candy.

Common Mistakes

I unwrapped a strawberry lolly on a stick.
I unwrapped a strawberry lolly' (or 'I unwrapped a strawberry lollipop on a stick').
If it is on a stick, use lollipop or specify; sense 2 lollies are stickless.

3. money, when referred to in a very casual or slang way — most often heard in Brit

3.nounB2
Definition

money, when referred to in a very casual or slang way — most often heard in British, Australian and New Zealand English when talking about cash, pay or profit in everyday conversation.

Example

If we finish the job early, there will be plenty of lolly to share.

uncountable: plenty of lolly

Harper put aside some of the lolly earned from weekend work to fix the car.

collocation: earn lolly

Common collocations
  • good lolly
  • enough lolly
  • earn lolly
  • spend lolly
  • save lolly
  • waste lolly
Synonyms
  • cash

    neutral and widely accepted term for physical money

  • dough

    similar informal slang, especially in American English

  • bread

    similar informal slang for money

Grammar Patterns

[uncountable] plenty of lolly

[uncountable] earn / save / spend lolly

Usage Note

Only used in informal speech or writing. Not appropriate in formal or business contexts such as bank transactions, job interviews, or official documents.

Common Mistakes

I need to withdraw some lolly from the bank.
I need to withdraw some money from the bank.
Lolly is too informal for official or financial settings.
There is not enough lollies to pay the bill.
There is not enough lolly to pay the bill.
Lolly meaning money is uncountable and does not take a plural form.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Lolly is an informal, often abbreviated word that can mean either a hard candy on a stick (a lollipop) or a frozen sweet on a stick (an ice lolly). Lollipop specifically describes the hard, round or flat candy made from boiled sugar and fixed onto a stick — it is common in both British and American English. Ice lolly is the full term for the frozen version, called a popsicle in American English. Popsicle is the standard American word for any frozen sweet on a stick, and is rarely used in British English. In Britain, saying just lolly works fine for both types; in the United States, speakers would normally say lollipop for the hard candy type and popsicle for the frozen type. For example: 'Hugo bought a strawberry ice lolly at the seaside shop' (UK) vs. 'Hugo bought a strawberry popsicle at the corner store' (US).

lollipop ↗ice lollypopsicle ↗

Etymology

English

The word lolly first appeared in the mid-19th century as a shortened form of lollipop. The sweet-on-a-stick meaning is the original sense. The slang use of lolly to mean 'money' developed during the 20th century in British English and is also common in Australia and New Zealand. The exact origin of the money sense is uncertain, but it may have come from navy slang or from the Romani word loli ('red' or 'copper', suggesting coins).

First known use

1854

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1