Polliwog
/ˈpɒl.i.wɒɡ/noun
A tadpole, especially one of a frog or toad.
Did you know?Polliwog is a folk-form that likely arose in English from earlier regional forms like pollywiggle, and its exact shape was reshaped by playful language rather than formal invention.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
polliwigge
“A tadpole or young frog.”
16th–17th Century
English
pollywig
“A regional or dialectal form for a tadpole, with playful sound symbolism.”
18th Century
English
polliwog
“A common variant spelling and pronunciation in English dialects.”
Modern English
English
polliwog
“A tadpole, especially in informal or regional usage.”