English Explanatory Dictionary

dally

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle.
  2. To caress, especially of a sexual nature; to fondle or pet
  3. To delay unnecessarily; to while away.
noun
  1. Several wraps of rope around the saddle horn, used to stop animals in roping.
verb
  1. To wind the lasso rope (ie throw-rope) around the saddle horn (the saddle horn is attached to the pommel of a western style saddle) after the roping of an animal
noun
  1. Alternative form of dolly (“offering of fruit or flowers”).
name
  1. A surname.
noun
  1. A New Zealand person of Croatian or other Balkan descent.

Pronunciation

/ˈdæli/ en-us-dally.ogg en-au-dally.ogg

Word forms

dally dallies dallying dallied Dallys

Etymology

From Middle English dalien, from Anglo-Norman delaier. Doublet of delay.

Synonyms

dawdle dilly-dally arse about arse around bludge bum around cabbage clown around dally dick about dick around diddle dretch drumble faff faff about faff around fanny about fanny around fart about fart around fiddle about fiddle around fool about fool around footle forslow goof around goof off hang about hang around hang out horse around idle jerk off lallygag lamp laze laze about laze around linger loaf loaf about loaf around loiter lollop lollygag mess around mill about mill around muck about muck around piddle pingle stand by tarry tool around waste time while feel up

Derived words

dallier dallyingly dilly-dally undallying
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