hoi polloi [ˈhɔɪ pəˈlɔɪ] n.
1.) The majority; the masses. Also formerly in Univ. slang, candidates for a pass degree. In English use normally preceded by the definite article even though hoi means ‘the’ (Oxford English Dictionary 2nd Ed.).
Etymology: Greek οἱ πολλοί, the many: hoi, nominative pl. of ho, the; + polloi, nominative pl. of polus, many.
"The hoi polloi of jarvies or stevedores or whatever they were after a cursory examination turned their eyes apparently dissatisfied, away though one redbearded bibulous individual portion of whose hair was greyish, a sailor probably, still stared for some appreciable time before transferring his rapt attention to the floor" (Ulysses, James Joyce, 1922).
42 comments:
i like this word ;D
It sounds funny :)
Good Morning Hoi Polloi!
It sounds like funny song name! --Tee hee hee!
Interesting word. I don't think I've heard it before.
surprised i pronounced it right
I like the painting! :D
this is probably my favorite word ever!
I used that on my dad all through 8th grade
and he NEVER understood it.
WIN.
I first learned this term from a song in a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta -- can't remember which one though. Middle age is hell.
The unwashed hoi polloi... yep, it has a ring to it.
I've heard this word used in a movie... "hoi polloi interlopers" is how they used it, I think. I didn't know what it meant, and wasn't sure how it was spelled, as I'd never read it anywhere. I thought it meant something else. Thanks, E!!
I thought it was a Hawaiian word. No joke.
I knew there was a reason I didn't read Ulysses.
Very interesting!
Strange word!
Someone I know uses this quite frequently, and it is driving me totally batty trying to figure out who it is. Argh!
i like it and will be working it into conversation at work tonight.
Where I'm from, If I tried to work this word into a conversation I would be shot. You know it's hard out here for a pimp!
Never heard of this one before!
Bwhaha, it sounds hilarious! Makes me wonder why people haven't been using this much.
Hoi polloi is one of those great words you can just say over and over and it never sounds or feels old. And thanks for commenting, I knew the oceans were needed for co2 to o2 conversion, but I didn't know they produced so much so thanks for that! xxx
interesting blog. interesting word. :)
Hoi polloi!!
sounds funny
this word sounds funny
I see this used a lot, believe it or not.
that one sounds funny, I like it.
hoi polloi got a lovely ring to it.
I am almost afraid to use this word in a non academic setting. People might think there is some new racist word or something.
My friends are gonna think I am so smrat! :D
Why am I not surprised that Lemons already knew this word? I'm telling you, she's a robot.
I love this word just because of the way it rolls off the tongue. Now get ready to hear me say it constantly until everyone hates it.
Joyce likes odd words...
I love learning new words.
Someone could remix this into a song chorus, it addicting just to say!
Love your blog, keep it up!!!
Hoi Polloi sounds like a type of exotic cheese haha
he he a very charming one, E!
I'm glad to hear that I've been pronouncing this correctly all along :)
I knew this one from a musical but I can't think of the musical at the moment and that's bugging me. Great post.
SIQ POST BRO!!!!
Fascinating and interesting!
That is a very interesting word.
that's a bit of a strange work , but better to know it than to not :)
interesting, there are quite a number of latin words to designate the vulgus but it's the first time i hear about a greek word for it
Sounds Hawaiian. I'm definitely going to find a way to use this in a sentence today.
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