holler
holler Lexical Profile
holler Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To give a loud shout or cry, especially to call attention from a distance or express excitement or pain.
"The coach had to holler across the noisy gymnasium so the players could hear the instructions."
American To complain, protest, or scold loudly (informal).
"Customers began to holler about the unexpected service fee on their monthly bills."
• noun
A loud shout, cry, or call made to attract attention or express strong emotion.
"Give me a holler when you are ready to leave for the station."
American A small, narrow, and sheltered valley nestled between hills or mountains, especially in the Appalachian region of the United States.
"Several generations of her family grew up in a quiet holler in eastern Kentucky."
American A traditional, unaccompanied African American vocal call or work song sung by field laborers in the southern United States, which helped lay the foundations for the blues.
"Musicologists recorded traditional field hollers across the Mississippi Delta in the early twentieth century."
Word Nuance & Usage
In southern and Appalachian American English, the noun "holler" is also a common dialectal spelling and pronunciation of "hollow," referring to a small, sheltered valley between mountains.
• Rhymes for holler
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Recorded in American English by the late 17th century as a phonetic alteration of "hollo" or "holla," which ultimately derives from Middle English and Old French calls used to attract attention or direct hunting dogs.