Definition:
: short and pudgy in stature
About the Word:
There are a lot more words in English for people who have too much weight than there are for those who have not enough. The list of synonyms for skinny is dwarfed by the list of its antonyms. Consider that for most of the history of the English-speaking people we have had more skinny people than overweight ones, and this imbalance appears to be a reflection of the language's use for cruelty.
So add roly-poly to the list of words you don't really need to use, along with squdgy, spuddy, chuffy, fozy, pursy, upholstered, and several dozen others.
Example:
"A little fat roly-poly fellow essayed the character of 'Hamlet' in Chicago last week. Frank Lincoln who saw him said that between fat Hamlets and ham fatlets Chicago playgoers are made pretty tired." — The New York Tribune, 30 April 1888
