# Polly

/ˈpɑɫi/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/polly
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a girl's name

noun · CEFR B1

a female given name.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. a parrot's name

noun · CEFR B1

a traditional name for a pet parrot.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. school prefect

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Dialect

a student leader at a specific private school in England.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- Polly is a very talkative parrot.
- The old sailor kept a colorful macaw named Polly that could mimic his laughter perfectly.
- The trope of the parrot named Polly has become so deeply embedded in maritime folklore that it serves as a shorthand for any talkative or repetitive companion.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.