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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

COLL, Cole, Kole, Koll, Koil, v. Cf. Cow, v.¹ [kɔl, kol Sc., but I.Sc. + kɔil (kɔil now less common than kol (Jak.))]

1. To cut, to hollow out, to shape (Sc. 1887 Jam.⁶, coll; Kcb.¹ 1937, cole); “to taper a thing by clipping or paring” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., kole); “to shape or take in (a garment)” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., cole). Ppl.adj. coled.Abd.⁹ 1936:
Coll oot the neck o' that blouse a bit.Dmf. a.1783 Gil Brenton in Child Ballads No. 5. A. lii.:
High-coled stockings and laigh-coled shoon.

2. To clip, trim, take off the top or ends, e.g. “to coll the hair, to poll it” (Sc. 1808 Jam.); to remove the horns of cattle. Also fig. Ppl.adj . kollet; cf. Cullyat.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Of a hard storm it is said: “hit is enough to blaw de horns aff o' a kollet coo.”Sh.(D) 1916 J. J. H. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr, Jöne 7:
Ye may get da warst tump frae a coo, whin shö's koillet.Ags., Per. c.1920 (per Slg.³):
Cole the wick of the lamp.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie I. xxx.:
It's a kind o' a book that I hae a thought anent; but . . . it wouldna be the waur o' being coll'd and kaim't by an experienced han' like yours.