Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a derog. term for a black person.

1903		Country Life 25 July 137/2: Yusuf, Hamet, the Gollywog, and every one who was master of three words of English or Hindustani poured his own version [of the news] into our ears. Hirsi went off to investigate.
1918		M.S. Briggs Through Egypt in War-time 76: The ‘Sambos’ or ‘Golliwogs’, as we nicknamed them [i.e. the British West Indian Regiment], varied in every shade from white to black, but, on the other hand, the Egyptians were more often brown than black.
1920		E.F. Benson Queen Lucia 65: The discussion [...] on the subject of having an unknown Indian staying with them [...] was opened... ‘Well, now, about this Golliwog—haha—I should say Guru’.
1956		‘Charles Raven’ Und. Nights 36: A slightly coloured character, who always went by the name of Golly-Eyes.
[1956		‘Raymond Thorp’ Viper 142: The spades [...] all grinned away like oversized golliwogs].
1981		N. Farki Countryman Karl Black 78: In Britain Mr Mayer would be called a ‘golly-W.O.G.’, Western Orientated Gentleman.
1984		‘Derek Raymond’ He Died with His Eyes Open 68: Why don’t we go over to their club across the road and see if we c’n find a golly.
2003		Guardian Society 10 Dec. 3: I’ve been called a ‘chimp’ before. I was also called a ‘golliwog’ by one of these officers.
2004		K-Lash-Nek-Off skit on Sagas Of ... [album] Come on, golly, you’re comin’ with us.
2013		Guardian 8 Apr. 🌐 Her TV career came to an abrupt halt in 2009 when she first likened a black tennis tennis player [...] to a gollywog.