Definition of "loblolly"

he and Narcissa paddled and splashed with tucked-up garments and muddy bottoms, after the crudest of whittled boats, or made loblollies by treading and treading in one spot with the intense oblivion of alchemists.

1931, William Faulkner, Sanctuary, Vintage, published 1993, page 122

Whil'st he, not dreaming of thy folly, / Lies gaping like a great Lob-lolly

1675, Lucian (trans. Charles Cotton), Burlesque upon Burlesque: or, The scoffer scoft, 86

This also is to be as silly as that jolt-headed loblolly of a carter, who, having laid his waggon fast in a slough, down on his marrow-bones was calling on the strong-backed deity, Hercules, might and main, to help him at a dead lift, but all the while forgot to goad on his oxen and lay his shoulder to the wheels, as it behoved him; as if a Lord have mercy upon us alone would have got his cart out of the mire.

1694, François Rabelais, (trans. Thomas Urquhart and Peter Antony Motteux), The Fourth Book.

If he would force the surgeon to cure us at the government's charge, it would be a mighty encouragement to us; but our rogue of a loblolly doctor, being not satisfied with his two-pences, must have a note for two months pay for every cure [...]

1777, Charles Shadwell, "The fair quaker of deal", in Bell's British Theatre, pages 21 to 22, OCLC 2986037.

A yellow-eyed collie Was guarding his coat- / Loose-limbed and lob-lolly, But wise and remote.

1914, Macmillan's Annual, page 46, OCLC 609887069

[...] there's this great, lob-lolly, hectoring Tom Button fast i' the pillory [...]

1920, Jeffery Farnol, Black Bartlemy's Treasure, published 2004, page 62

There was a wave of slackness, and young men preferred to remain lob-lolly lesser Hindus than to follow their fathers' stern creed.

1932, Journal of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, volume 80, page 185

This lob-lolly would for ever be making love to ladies, to the no small gain of the pages, whou would feign to bring him commendations and tokens from the ladies in return for angels.

1946, George Bagshawe Harrison, A Jocobean Journal, page 176, OCLC 14246203.

When he heard a rumour circulating amongst the Irish lob-lolly gangs of track layers, he caught a ride on the Pennsylvania and Eastern [...]

2007, H. J. Popowski, All A Young Man Could Ask For, page 7

You'd rather lob-lolly about these refreshment-rooms, and stuff yourselves until you can't stir.

1898, William Black, Wild Eelin, page 174, OCLC 2066856.