Rollicking

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Exuding a sense of carefree joy and spirited merriment, often associated with lively interactions and boisterous fun
2. Marked by exuberant and lively enjoyment that suggests uninhibited fun and spirited behavior
3. Characterized by a joyful and energetic atmosphere that encourages spontaneous amusement

Etymology: "Rollicking" first appears in print in 1811, while "rollick" itself followed in 1826, so the verb is the younger of the pair, not the base from which the adjective grew. The likeliest explanation is a blend of "roll" and "frolic," two words that between them capture the sense of boisterous, tumbling fun the word still carries. The source also links "rollick" to "bollock," a word whose older meanings are coarse and far from playful. Connecting the two is more tentative than the blend theory, so the blend is the more reliable account of how the word took shape, while the "bollock" connection remains an open question for the reader to weigh.

Synonyms: merry, fun, lively, joyous, frolicsome

Antonyms: serious, sober, sedate, grave