Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CHOLLER, Choler, Chuller, Chulder, Chiller, n. Also cholar. Mostly used in pl. Found also in Eng. dial. See also Chirle. [′tʃɔlər, ′tʃʌlər, ′tʃɪlər]
1. The fleshy lower part of the face, esp. when fat and hanging; “a double-chin” (Sc. 1808 Jam., choler; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 134, chollers, chulders); “the sides of the neck” (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn., chollers, chillers). Known to Abd.9 1940.Abd.(D) 1767 R. Forbes Jnl. from London (1869) 10:
A thick, setterel, swown pallach, wi' a great chuller oner his cheeks, like an ill scraped haggis.
‡2. “The gills of a fish” (Upper Clydes., Rxb. 1825 Jam.2; Dmf. Ib., chullers, s.v. choler). Given for Rxb. by Watson in W.-B. (1923), obsol.Ayr. 1790 J. Fisher Poems 158:
Lest a black chiel shoud wi' his angle, It [a fish] in its muddy streams entangle, An' break its cholars wi' a reel.
‡3. “The wattles of a cock” (Ayr.4 1928; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Rnf. a.1850 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) C. 101, chullers; Dmf. 1956).
[O.Sc. chollare, the flesh under the jaw, the jowl, c.1500–c.1512 (D.O.S.T.). Phs. from O.E. ceolor, the throat (Sweet); cogn. O.H.Ger. këla, Mod.Ger. kehle. On the other hand, N.E.D. thinks that it may be related to cholle, an early form of Eng. chowl, mod. jowl.]
