[. . . .]. MS. Cantab, Ff. ii. 38, f. 109. Soche strokys were never seen in londe Syth Olyvere dyed and Rowlonde.
1542. Hall, Henry VI., f. But to have a Rowland to resist an Oliver, he sent solempne ambassadors to the kyng of Englande, offeryng hym hys doughter in marriage.
1565. Calfhill, Treat. of Cross, 374. Have a quarrel to Rowland and fight with Oliver.
1598. Shakspeare, I Hen. VI., i. 2. England all Olivers and Rolands bred.
1612. Court and Times James I., 187. There is hope you shall have an Oliver for a Roland.
1706. Ward, Wooden World, 68. By the help of some twopenny Scribbler she will always return him a Rowland for his Oliver.
1820. Combe, Syntax, II. iii. I shall be able . . . to bestow . . . a quid pro quo; Which I translate for Madam, there, A Rowland for your Oliver.
1901. D. Telegraph, 18 Nov., 7, 3. Oh, we are getting on splendidly! (Laughter.) That is a Roland for an Oliver.
Roly-poly, subs. phr. (old).—1.
A country bumpkin.
1602. Dekker, Satiromastix, iii. 116. These two rolly pollies.
2. (common).—A jam roll pudding; dog-in-a-blanket: also roll up. As adj. = round and fat.
1841. Thackeray, Great Hoggarty Diamond, xii. You said I make the best roly-poly puddings in the world. Ibid. (1848), Book of Snobs, i. As for the roly-poly, it was too good.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., I. 207. Sometimes made in the rounded form of the plum-pudding; but more frequently in the roly-poly style.
1852. Mrs. Craik, Agatha's Husband, xii. Cottages, in the doors of which a few roly-poly, open-eyed children stand.
1860. Eliot, Mill on Floss, i. 6. I know what the pudden's to be—apricot roll-up—O my buttons!
1882. Worboise, Sissie, xix. Squashy rolypoly pudding.
3. (common).—See quots.
1713. Arbuthnot, Hist. John Bull. Let us begin some diversion; what d'ye think of roulypouly or a country dance?
1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., III. 145. When I danced it was merely a comic dance—what we call a roley-poley.
4. (venery).—The penis: see Prick.
Roll, subs. (common).—In pl. = a
baker: see Burncrust. Also
Master of the Rolls.
Verb. (old).—A verb of spirit: generic (1) = to gad; (2) to rollick in one's walk; and (3) to swagger: also to roll about. Whence to roll in bub (or grub) = to have plenty to eat (or drink); to roll in gold = to be monstrous rich; to roll in one's ivories = to kiss; to roll in every rig = to be "up-to-date"; to roll the leer = to pick pockets; to have a roll on = to swagger, to put on side (q.v.); to roll one's hoop = to go ahead, to be on the safe side: rolling = smart, ready; rolling kiddy = a clever thief; rollick (or rollop) = to romp along.
1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, Prol. Wife of Bath's Tale, 6235. Man shal not suffer his wif go roule about.
1542. Udall, Apoph., 243 [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 490. A bombastic orator rolls (exults) in painted terms; hence our 'roll in wealth,' and the later rollick].
1567. Harman, Caveat, 20. These unruly rascals in their rolling disperse themselves into several companies.
1775. Old Song, 'The Potato Man' [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 55. I am a saucy rolling blade.
