In Appalachian and Southern speech, "roly poly" has two common meanings: the pill bug that curls into a ball, and a playful way to describe someone chubby or round, especially babies.
Oh 'roly poly' is a common word in the country. And growin' up, I remember my Momma often singin', "roly poly, eatin' corn and taters.'
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Oh 'roly poly' is a common word in the country. And growin' up, I remember my Momma often singin', "roly poly, eatin' corn and taters.'
Pronunciation
[ROH-lee POH-lee]
Meaning & Usage
- The pill bug (woodlouse) (noun)
In the yard
Mae:
What are the kids doin’?
Earl:
Pickin’ up roly polies under the rocks.
- A chubby or round person (noun, figurative)
At home
Mae:
Look at them fat cheeks.
Earl:
Yep, he’s a little roly poly.
variations: pill bug, doodle bug, wood louse, sow bug, butterball (similar figurative use), kids catching roly polies under rocks, he’s a roly poly baby, she called him a roly poly little feller
★ "Roly poly" is one of those playful country words that kids learn early - first from catching bugs, then from hearing it used affectionately about babies or chubby folks. ★
Origin and Etymology
From the English nursery term "roly-poly," meaning round and rolling, recorded as far back as the 1800s. In Southern and Appalachian English, it stuck both as a name for the pill bug and as a description for someone plump.
Usage Notes
Still widely used in the South and Appalachia. The bug sense is common elsewhere in the U.S., but the affectionate figurative sense ("roly poly baby") carries stronger country and family flavor. Related to butterball.
No - it’s used nationwide, but in the South/Appalachia it’s often the *main* name, instead of "pill bug."
Is calling someone "roly poly" mean?
Usually not - it’s often affectionate, especially with babies.
Do people still use it today?
Yes - both for the bug and for describing someone chubby or round.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 18). Roly Poly. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/roly-poly
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Roly Poly." HillbillySlang.com, 18 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/roly-poly.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Roly Poly." HillbillySlang.com. September 18, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/roly-poly.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
Oh 'roly poly' is a common word in the country. And growin' up, I remember my Momma often singin', "roly poly, eatin' corn and taters.' 
