pilgarlic

English

WOTD – 17 June 2011

Alternative forms

• pilgarlick (obsolete)

Etymology

From pilled/peeled + garlic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɪlˈɡɑːlɪk/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

Noun

pilgarlic (plural pilgarlics)

1. (archaic) A bald-headed person.
   • 2010, Courtney Sheinmel, Sincerely, page 35:

     Dad turned to Haley, the pliant daughter. “He's a very lanky pumpkin,” he said. “And he's a pilgarlic.”

2. (archaic) A pitiable or foolish person.

Quotations

• 1667, Third Advice to a Painter:

  The plot succeeds: the Dutch in haste prepare, / And poor pilgarlic George's arse they share.

• 1787, George Colman the Younger, Inkle and Yarico, III.1:

  My poor pilgarlic of a master, what will become of him?

Translations

bald-headed person — see egghead

pitiable or foolish person

• Finnish: polo (fi), poloinen
• Russian: бедолага (ru) m or f (bedolaga)