loblolly
UK[ˈlɒb.lɒl.i]US[ˈlɑːb.lɑː.li]
n
A type of thick, often muddy, gruel or porridge.
n
A mire, bog, or muddy hole.
n
Chiefly US. A North American pine tree (Pinus taeda) that grows in wet, low ground.
Etymology
The word 'loblolly' is a playful, reduplicative formation from English regional speech, emerging in the late 16th century. It originally combined 'lob', suggesting something thick and lumpy, with 'lolly', a term for broth or stew. This literally described a thick, viscous porridge, often associated with rustic or nautical fare. The semantic logic then extended from the consistency of the food to describe a muddy place or bog. The name was later applied to the pine tree (Pinus taeda) in the American South due to its common habitat in such moist, lowland areas, completing a journey from describing a substance's texture to a landscape feature and finally to a plant that thrives there.
Analysis
This word is a reduplicative compound of English dialectal origin. The first element 'lob' is likely imitative of something thick and heavy falling or being stirred. The second element 'lolly' is an obsolete English dialect word for broth, soup, or any soft food.
Examples
The sailors were served a simple loblolly made from oatmeal and water.
After the rain, the path turned into a complete loblolly.
The forest was primarily composed of tall loblolly pines.