ETYMOLOGY
possibly from rhyming sl. “little Mary Kelly” = belly
EXAMPLE
“… But when two Acts and a -half have gained our hearts, and all the characters have won our admiration and compelled our sympathies, should we be harshly severe on one lapsus linguae? Is this to be for us a casus belli against Mr. Barrie? Decidedly not. Goodnatured British audiences have strong Little Maries. It is enough that the absurd persons on the stage should turn up their noses and resent the utterance of the objectionable word so simply and prettily pronounced by innocent dainty Moira, without the audience imitating their stupid example. …”
From: Punch, or The London Charivari
October 14, 1903
Dr. Barrie’s “Little Minister” of the Interior
Lexicophilia 