toolie n. in Australia, an older man who preys on or interferes with teenagers celebrating the end of final year secondary school exams. Etymological Note: Perhaps related to tool ‘a stupid person’ by comparison with schoolie ‘a student celebrating the end of final year exams.’ Alternately, it could be influenced by tool v. ‘to drive (an automobile); to cruise (around),’ particularly given the predatory undertones of toolie. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Among ham radio enthusiasts, the word Elmer has become an affectionate term for an experienced ham radio operator who mentors a novice. It’s also used as a verb: Elmering someone means helping a new ham. The term was coined in a 1971 magazine...
In this bonus A Way with Words minicast, Martha and Grant look into the myriad stories behind the word cocktail. Does the drink name come from feathers? Horses? Something up a horse’s rump? It’s a weird wandering down etymology...
Toolie is a surname of a Siberian Yupik ( eskimo) family in Savoonga, Alaska. The traditional spelling is Tuuli