What does gooly mean?
Gooly is an informal, disparaging English noun for an unattractive woman and, in an older or broader sense, a stupid or contemptible person. In its familiar British usage, it is typically used as a label for a woman considered ugly or plain, and it appears in older literature and dialogue. The word is also attested in North American English for a fool or a person held in contempt, though that sense is now archaic or very dated. Both senses are insulting rather than neutral, and modern speakers generally encounter them when discussing historical or comic language rather than using them about another person. Because it can function as body-shaming, gooly should be avoided in formal writing and used only where derogatory language is contextually appropriate. It is chiefly interesting as a piece of social and literary history: an old regionalism whose precise meaning depends on the speaker, the period, and the intended sense.
nounAn informal, disparaging term for an unattractive or ugly woman. In an older or broader use, it can mean a stupid or contemptible person.
- An unattractive or ugly woman.
- A stupid, foolish, or contemptible person.
"The old film used "gooly" as a comic insult for any woman who did not fit its narrow ideal of beauty."
"The old film used "gooly" as a comic insult for any woman who did not fit its narrow ideal of beauty."
"The witness was dismissed by the prosecutor as a gooly."
The regular plural is goolies. In modern use it most often refers disparagingly to a group of women considered unattractive.
"The musical presents its conspirators as a chorus of goolies."
Gooly is an old, derogatory label for an unattractive woman—and an even older insult for a fool.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gooly come from?
The exact origin of gooly is uncertain, and its recorded history belongs to disparaging rather than formal English usage. By the 19th century, the word was used both for an unattractive woman and for a fool or contemptible person. Its obscure derivation makes it unsafe to assign it confidently to a particular English root or to name secure cognates.
Related word forms
How gooly is actually used
The word is informal and consistently disparaging. Its sense for an unattractive woman is particularly associated with British usage and may be perceived as body-shaming; the broader sense for a fool or contemptible person is older and now often dated. It is unsuitable for formal or respectful communication.
Easily confused with gooly
A gully is a narrow channel or steep ravine, often carrying water, whereas gooly is a derogatory term for a person.