Definition of "dolly"

(childish, colloquial) A doll.  quotations  examples

(cooking) A roughly cylindrical wooden object used as a base when molding pie crust.  examples

A contrivance for stirring:

1. A disc with downward legs and a vertical handle, used for agitating laundry.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • LAUNDRY. 1 Dolly tub and pegs 2 Mangle 3 Washing machine

     1840, R. White (Auctioneer), Sale at Woodhouse Place, near Mansfield. Catalogue of the valuable and useful household furniture [etc.], Third Day's Sale. Wednesday, November 4th, 1840

   • In its most common form, the dolly was a four- or five-legged stool attached to an upright handle about three feet long with a crossbar handle at the top.

     1986, Patricia Malcolmson, English Laundresses: A Social History, 1850-1930‎, page 30

2. A device turned on a vertical axis by a handle or a winch, giving a circular motion to ore being washed.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • The dolly tub or rinsing bucket, fig. 630., has an upright shaft which bears the vane or dolly a b, turned by the winch handle.

     1840, Andrew Ure, A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines‎, page 751

A tool with an indented head for shaping the head of a rivet.  quotations  examples

In pile driving, a block interposed between the head of the pile and the ram of the driver.  examples

A small truck with a single wide roller used for moving heavy beams, columns, etc., in bridge building.  examples

A small truck without means of steering, to be slipped under a load.  examples

A compact, narrow-gauge locomotive used for moving construction trains, switching, etc.  examples

(film) A specialized piece of film equipment resembling a little cart on which a camera is mounted.  examples

(slang) A young woman, especially one who is frivolous or vapid.  quotations

(slang, UK, dated) A fashionable young woman, one who follows the latest music or clothing fashions.  quotations

(cricket, dated) A ball hit by a batsman such that it goes gently to a fielder for a simple catch.  examples

(gambling) A marker placed on the winning number by the dealer at roulette.  examples

(transitive, cricket) To hit a dolly.  examples

(transitive) To move (an object) using a dolly.  examples

(transitive) To wash (laundry) in a tub using the stirring device called a dolly.  examples

(transitive) To beat (red-hot metal) with a hammer.  examples

(transitive) To crush ore with a dolly.  examples

(Polari) Pretty; attractive.  quotations  examples

(Yorkshire, especially Sheffield) left-handed (also dolly-handed, dolly-pawed, dolly-posh)  examples

(India) An offering of fruit or flowers.  quotations  examples