Tag Archives: jolly

Archaic Definition of the Week – Jolly!

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Jollies Another name for the Royal Marines.  Originally all soldiers carried on board a British warship were known as “jollies,” with a “tame jolly” being a militiaman and a “royal jolly” a marine.

Ship to Shore: A Dictionary of Everyday Words and Phrases Derived from the Sea by Peter D. Jeans.

HAVE A JOLLY CHRISTMAS!