poliwag

plural poliwags

1. obsoleteObsolete form of pollywog.

   Seven inches of rain fell in the first quarter of June. If the thing continues Mud Prairie will become an inland sea, and boat building will take the place of corn raising, and frogs and poliwags the place of wheat and other cereals.

   1877 June 14, “Dubois Dottings”, in W. M. Pierce, C. D. Wassell, editors, The Nashville Journal, volume 15, number 23, Nashville, Ill., page 3

   2 more examples

   The Fathers of our ancient Commonwealth […] have, at almost every season since our remembrance, employed a considerable part of their time in regulating the birds, fish, and reptiles within their jurisdiction. […] But the fish, poliwag, and Militia laws have been handled over so much, in years past, may have grown rather stale; and fears were entertained that the present session of the Legislature would terminate a week or two sooner than usual, for want of sufficient business to act upon.

   1828 June 20, “Canada Thistles”, in Thomas G. Fessenden, editor, New England Farmer, volume 6, number 48, Boston: John B. Russell, page 382

   One Shanks, of Indiana [i.e., John P. C. Shanks], insulted the civilization of the American people last week by offering a resolution in the rump congress indorsing the murder of the Emperor Maximilian, but, to their credit be it said, even this congress refused to entertain the brilliant suggestion, and Shanks has subsided to the infinitessimal proportions of his fellow poliwags, who put him up the pole.

   1867 July 13, “[untitled]”, in Des Arc Weekly Citizen, volume 2, number 18, Des Arc, Ark.: Poe & Mathews, page 3