Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Subscribe

Archives



Sep 7, 2017
This week’s theme
Terms from ball games

This week’s words
Monday morning quarterback
slam dunk
bush league
googly
spin doctor

googly
A googly ball?
Photo: Pete Brown

Bookmark and Share Facebook Twitter Digg MySpace Bookmark and Share
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

googly

PRONUNCIATION:
(GOO-glee)

MEANING:
noun: In cricket, a ball bowled with a deceptive action so that it bounces in a direction different from what the batsman was expecting. (video)
adjective: (eyes) Staring, bulging, or wide open, in amazement or admiration.

ETYMOLOGY:
For noun: of unknown origin. For adjective, perhaps from goggle. Earliest documented use: 1901.

USAGE:
“Just as you settle on what you intend to do, on the sequence of actions that you need to take, fate bowls you a googly: other things happen that wreck your plans.”
Andrew Scholes; The Days Grow Short; Lulu; 2014.

“Because you thought that would make Saxon Walker go all googly over you, didn’t you? You actually thought he might take you in his arms and hug you?”
Jaclyn Moriarty; Feeling Sorry for Celia; St. Martin’s Press; 2001.

See more usage examples of googly in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it. -Edith Sitwell, poet (7 Sep 1887-1964)

What they say

“A.Word.A.Day, a rare exception to the usual blight on my mailbox”
Read more

The Wall Street Journal


More articles

Anu Garg on words

“Each word comes with a biography. These words have fascinating stories to tell, if only we take the time to listen.”

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2025 Wordsmith