golly

interjection

gol·ly ˈgä-lē

—used as a mild oath or to express surprise

—usually used in the phrase by golly

Word History

Etymology

euphemism for God

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of golly was in 1775

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Browse Nearby Words

gollop

golly

goloch

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Golly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/golly. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.

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