Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An object having the shape and often the appearance of an erect penis, used in sexual stimulation.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A term of obscure cant or slang origin, used in old ballads and plays as a mere refrain or nonsense-word; also used, from its vagueness, as a substitute for various obscene terms, and in various obscene meanings.
  • noun A tall columnar cactus of Jamaica, Cereus Swartzii, woolly at the summit and bearing pale-red flowers. The dried fibrous portions of the stems were used as torches by the Indians.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun obsolete A burden in popular songs.
  • noun (Bot.) A columnar cactaceous plant of the West Indies (Cereus Swartzii).
  • noun Slang a device shaped like an erect penis, used by some women for sexual stimulation.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An artificial phallus (penis), particularly for sexual uses.
  • noun pejorative An idiot.
  • noun A columnar cactaceous plant of the West Indies (Cereus swartzii).
  • verb transitive To penetrate with a dildo.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a vibrating device that substitutes for an erect penis to provide vaginal stimulation

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Origin unknown.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Unclear; possibly an alteration of Italian diletto ("delight") or English diddle; or possibly derived from "Dil Doul", as in e.g. "The Maids Complaint for want of a Dil Doul", a song found in the library of Samuel Pepys.

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Examples

Comments

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  • "Dildo is located on Route 80, approximately 15 km from the Trans Canada Highway"

    February 16, 2007

  • A town on the island of Newfoundland, Canada.

    January 1, 2008

  • Oddly enough, just after listing this (thanks to bilby), I read a travel article in the Washington Post about Newfoundland:

    "Then there's the village of Dildo. Located across from Spread Eagle on Conception Bay near Come By Chance, Dildo entices me to investigate. I stop first at the local convenience store. The clerk fumes, hates that people come here only to learn why Dildo has its name and not to see the town. Seems that folks tried to change the name a few years back, but the resolution was defeated. Some townsfolk now are trying to build civic pride: "D" stands for Dignity, "I" for...." --Paula Stone, "A Trip Off the Old Rock," Washington Post, Sunday, April 22, 2007; Page P01.

    January 5, 2008

  • Whereas Intercourse, Pa welcomes tourists. I picked up a copy of Intercourse News, and a fridge magnet that says "I ♥ Intercourse"

    July 22, 2008

  • "dally, a thing to play withal.'>From the Italian dilletto, q.d. a woman's delight, or from our word dally, a thing to play withal. Penis-succedaneus, called in Lombardy Passo Tempo." (1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue)

    September 7, 2008

  • My Lady Southesk, Heav'ns prosper her for't,

    First Cloath'd him in Satten, then brought him to Court;

    But his Head in the Circle, he Scarcely durst Show,

    So modest a Youth was Signior Dildo.

    The good Lady Suffolk thinking no harm,

    Had got this poor Stranger hid under her Arm:

    Lady Betty by Chance came the Secret to know,

    And from her own Mother, Stole Signior Dildo

    excerpt from Rochester's "Signior Dildo"

    May 2, 2009

  • This word also has a general purpose derogatory use. When used this way the root meaning is only vaguely evoked (cf. douche-bag).

    July 10, 2009

  • The Melbourne trial of a stripper accused of violating the best man at a bucks’ night with a strap-on pink dildo will decide the crucial issue of deliberate penetration against the unusual suggestion of possible 'accidental rape'.

    -Syndey Morning Herald, Friday 31 July 2009.

    July 31, 2009

  • Odd phrase that, accidental rape.

    July 31, 2009

  • Is WeirdNet thinking of vibrators?

    July 31, 2009

  • Adieu! faint-hearted instrument of lust;

    That falselie hath betrayde our equale trust.

    Hence-forth no more will I implore thine ayde,

    Or thee, or man of cowardize upbrayde. 236

    My little dilldo shall suply their kinde:

    A knaue, that moues as light as leaues by winde;

    That bendeth not, nor fouldeth anie deale,

    But stands as stiff as he were made of steele; 240

    And playes at peacock twixt my leggs right blythe,

    And doeth my tickling swage with manie a sighe.

    For, by saint Runnion! he'le refresh me well;

    And neuer make my tender bellie swell. 244

    - Thomas Nashe, The Choise of Valentines, Or the Merie Ballad of Nash His Dildo, c1590

    April 15, 2010