polly

n. a female given name.

n. a female given name, originally a rhyming variant of Molly (itself a diminutive of Mary).

“Polly was a very popular name for girls in the nineteenth century.”

“The protagonist, Polly, navigates the complexities of Victorian social expectations with a resilience that belies her modest upbringing.”

n. a traditional name for a pet parrot.

n. a conventional or generic name used for a pet parrot, often appearing in the phrase 'Polly wants a cracker'.

“The old sailor had a green parrot named Polly that could mimic his whistle.”

“The cliché of the talking parrot named Polly has been reinforced by centuries of maritime literature and popular culture.”

n. a student leader at a specific private school in England.

n. a slang term for a prefect at Uppingham School; highly restricted in geographical and social use.

“He was chosen to be a polly during his final year at the school.”

“The term 'polly' remains a peculiar piece of institutional argot, understood only by the alumni and staff of that specific Rutland school.”

British English · Slang · Dialect