Lollipop: A Tongue-Slap on a Stick
The word *lollipop* sounds like it should have a whimsical origin, and it does — though not quite the one most people expect. It is almost certainly a compound of two dialect words: *lolly* (tongue) and *pop* (a slap or small rounded thing). A lollipop is, at its etymological heart, a tongue-slap.
The Lolly Half
The key is the verb *loll*, attested in English from the 14th century, meaning to hang loosely or droop — particularly of the tongue. A lolling tongue is one that dangles lazily from the mouth. In Northern English dialects, *lolly* became a familiar word for the tongue itself, which is exactly what you use on this particular sweet.
The Pop Half
The *pop* element is less certain. It may refer to the popping sound of pulling candy from the mouth, or it may simply be a playful intensifier — a "bang" or "strike" added for emphasis. English has a long tradition of combining food words with percussive sounds: *gobstopper*, *jawbreaker*, *crack* (as in cracker).
The Romani Theory
A competing etymology connects *lollipop* to Romani *loli phabai* (red apple), supposedly referring to the toffee apples sold at English fairs. While appealing, this theory has less documentary support than the dialect explanation. Romani loan words in English are well-documented (*pal*, *cushty*, *nark*), but the phonetic fit here is imperfect.