What does coll mean?
'Coll' is a small but affectionate English word meaning to hug or embrace someone closely, and by extension an embrace itself. It survives today almost entirely as a regionalism, heard chiefly in northern English dialects and read in older literature, where characters 'coll' their loved ones or give them 'a good coll.' Its sense is straightforwardly physical and warm: to gather someone into one's arms. Because the word has receded from mainstream use, many speakers will not recognize it, which makes its appearance in a text feel distinctly rustic or old-fashioned. Learners should treat 'coll' as a curiosity rather than everyday vocabulary — 'hug,' 'embrace,' and 'cuddle' cover the same ground in modern standard English. It should also not be confused with 'col,' the geographical term for a mountain pass, though the two share a spelling that differs by only one letter.
To embrace, hug, or clasp closely; now chiefly British dialectal.
"He coll'd his brother warmly at the station."
Rare outside dialect and historical contexts.
An embrace or hug.
"She gave the little dog a gentle coll."
Applies only to the noun sense ('an embrace'); the plural is rare because the noun itself is uncommon.
"The letter described the parting, full of colls and tears."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coll
'Coll' descends from Middle English, where it already carried the sense of embracing or clasping, and it appears to belong to the family of common Germanic verbs of physical contact, with parallels in related languages. It remained current in spoken regional English long after it faded from literary usage, which is why it survives chiefly in dialect records and nineteenth-century fiction. It is etymologically unrelated to 'col,' the term for a mountain pass, which comes from French and ultimately Latin 'collum' (neck).
How coll is actually used
'Coll' is rare and largely confined to regional British dialects and historical texts; most modern readers will encounter it only in literature or dialect glossaries. It carries warm, affectionate connotations.
Easily confused with coll
A 'col' is a low point or pass between two mountains, while 'coll' (with two l's) is a chiefly dialectal verb meaning to hug or embrace.