round heeln.
/ˈraʊn(d) hiːl/, /ˌraʊn(d) ˈhiːl/, U.S. /ˈraʊn(d) ˌhil/, /ˌraʊn(d) ˈhil/ slang (originally and chiefly U.S.).
1. In plural.
a. to have round heels: (in figurative contexts) (a) (of a boxer or fighter) to be easily rocked backwards, pushed over, or knocked out; (b) (of a woman) to give in easily to demands for sexual intercourse; to be sexually promiscuous; (c) (of a person) to be easily persuaded, outwitted, or overpowered.
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1925 Chicago Tribune 19 Sept. 2/4 Sure, I'll fight when a guy he gets off of base. I ain't got round heels.
1926 G. Abbott & J. V. A. Weaver Love 'em & leave 'Em iii. 109 You want people to say you got round heels. Why don't you go on the streets and be done with it?
1939 H. Powell Ninety Times Guilty ix. 156 You needn't think that just because I work in a joint, I have got round heels to fall for every fellow that comes along.
1975 R. Davies World of Wonders (1977) i. viii. 105 She's got round heels, I can always tell.
2007 T. Lakeman Chillwater Cove (2008) lxi. 330 One drink and she's got round heels.
b. With reference to the capacity of such a person to succumb.
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the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > defeat or overthrow > [noun] > capability of being
vincibleness1727
vincibility1752
round heels1926
1926 Variety 29 Dec. 7/4 A push-over, which means a fighter with round heels along cauliflower alley, was, by the same token, a dame on rockers.
1953 F. Wakeman Mandrake Root 94 You couldn't be called a truly promiscuous girl, with round heels, so calloused by sex experience that you could make the deal with the County Superintendent.
1975 P. De Vries Glory of Hummingbird xiii. 192 Her famous round heels did not seem to rule out a stern morality on other counts.
2008 M. Hickling Grown-up Sex 86 The opinions expressed by seniors online vary from ‘Sexual intercourse is not at all important to me’, to ‘I want someone with round heels’.
c. A sexually promiscuous woman, esp. a prostitute. (Chiefly in nicknames and derogatory descriptions.)
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society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > [noun] > sexual indulgence > unchaste behaviour of woman > unchaste or loose woman > woman who makes herself available
pushover1916
pick-me-up1918
round-heeler1927
lay1932
make1933
round heel1933
round heels1944
hump1969
pull1969
spare1969
1944 R. Chandler Lady in Lake v. 35 You'd think..I'd..pick me a change in types at least. But little roundheels over there ain't even that.
1963 ‘G. Bagby’ Murder's Little Helper (1964) viii. 84 Little Miss Roundheels..specialized in gentlemen who were otherwise committed.
1988 J. Ellroy Big Nowhere xix. 217 He squeezed in through the woodbox opening, knowing round-heels Annie was there.
2009 Atlantic Monthly Sept. 84/1 She became, instead, a round-heels, a bawdy creature who was available to be kept, if the price was right.
2. In singular (now usually as one word).
a. A boxer or fighter who is easily knocked out or defeated; = pushover n. 2b. Also: any inept sportsman. Now rare.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > [noun] > boxer > types of
bruiser1744
ruffian1791
in-fighter1812
punisher1812
nobber1821
receiver general1821
slogger1829
slogster1881
ham1888
slaughterer1896
pushover1908
bum1917
mauler1920
palooka1920
round heel1926
set-up1926
powder puff1931
spoiler1948
kick-boxer1978
stiff1989
1926 Chicago Sunday Tribune 24 Jan. ii. 5/3 As a fighter you are a terrible round heel, dearie.
1941 Atlanta Constit. 1 Feb. 9/4 Unlike boxers, who, unless they're round heels, run in to mix it in the middle, the hunters ran the other way.
1943 J. G. T. Spink et al. Baseball Guide & Rec. Bk. Gloss. 104 Round heel, poor player.
b. = sense 1c. Cf. pushover n. 2c.
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society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > [noun] > sexual indulgence > unchaste behaviour of woman > unchaste or loose woman > woman who makes herself available
pushover1916
pick-me-up1918
round-heeler1927
lay1932
make1933
round heel1933
round heels1944
hump1969
pull1969
spare1969
1933 S. Lewis Ann Vickers xxxi. 398 You! Miss Vickers! Dr. Vickers! You round-heel!
1943 R. Ottley New World a-Coming 158 A few of them [sc. streetwalkers]—called ‘roundheels’—are a pretty vicious lot.
1963 J. Thompson Grifters (1985) iii. 18 A fine-looking young fellow like you is bound to have ladyfriends, and I bet they got class too. None of these roundheels that crumb a place up just by walking through the lobby.
1990 S. Morgan Homeboy vi. 44 One can dry hump the local roundheels without fear of infection, dry fire a pistol and spend not one day in jail.
2008 K. Lilley Killer Workout 78 I'll dig up something for you, simply because I'm such a horrible roundheel for redheads.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1925