I looked it up in another dictionary, and it's a scarecrow, or a quite large doll, maybe a bit scary. I can see why they hated it so much. I've even seen a pic of them were they are posing in matching costumes and wigs, dressed up like golliwogs. My heart bleeds for them... Ha, ha, maybe they are right!
My dad always says; "It's hard to be humble when you're perfect". Wise guy.