In short, yes, “holler” can be slang for “hollow” in certain contexts. The word “holler” has a few different meanings and uses as slang, while “hollow” most commonly means empty on the inside or having a hole. Let’s explore the meanings and origins of these words further.
The Various Meanings of “Holler”
“Holler” is primarily considered Southern American slang with several definitions. The most common meanings of “holler” as slang are:
- A small valley between mountains or hills
- To shout or yell loudly
- One’s home or hometown
- A rural, backcountry area
The first definition of “holler” referring to a small valley comes from the tendency for voices to echo and carry or “holler” across these areas. The verb form meaning to shout loudly follows a similar origin. Another theory suggests “holler” comes from the Scottish term “halloo” referring to a shout during hunting.
Use of “Holler” to Mean “Hollow”
The slang meaning of “holler” as hollow or empty on the inside is often used in phrases like:
- “My stomach is holler”
- “I feel so holler inside”
- “There’s a holler feeling in my chest”
This usage likely grew from the shared “oll” sound in the two words. Calling something “holler” evokes the imagery of an empty space echoing back your voice just like a small valley. This slang use also overlaps with the meaning of shouting since shouting into an empty space produces an echoing, “hollering” effect.
The Definition of “Hollow”
The word “hollow” has a few formal definitions including:
- Having an empty space or hole inside
- Having a cavity within
- Sunken or concave
- Without substance or significance
- Not sincere or genuine
It comes from Old English terms like “holh” meaning hollow or deep and is related to “hole.” Using “hollow” evokes a sense of emptiness, depth, and echoes. Calling something hollow suggests it lacks substance, value, or a core foundation. This is why the slang use of “holler” shares similar connotations.
Examples of “Hollow” in Context
Here are some examples of using the word “hollow” in a sentence:
- The inside of the tree trunk was hollowed out over time.
- She felt hollow with grief after her friend’s passing.
- His promises turned out to be hollow words without any real commitment.
- The sound echoed through the hollow cave loudly.
Historical Origins and Evolution
Tracing back further, “holler” evolved from the Middle English term “hol” meaning a cavity or hole. The Old English “hol” meant a hole or hollow place and was common in writing by the year 825 AD. This originated from the Proto-Germanic “khulaz” also indicating a hole. The Proto-Indo-European root “kel-” meant to cover or conceal something.
The word “hollow” also came from Middle English “holwe”, Old English “holh”, and Proto-Germanic “khulaz” – all similarly meaning a hole or hollow place. Therefore, these two modern words share the same linguistic origins referring to empty spaces and cavities.
In terms of more recent slang usage, some sources cite “holler” used to mean “hollow” or “hungry” as early as the 1920s in the Southern US. However, this slang usage likely existed in verbal communication and regional dialects long before appearing in written documents.
Early Uses of “Holler” in Southern Literature
Some early examples of “holler” used to mean hollow or hungry appear in Southern US literature, including:
- “I’m holler as a jug.” – from Dorothy Scarborough’s novel The Wind (1925)
- “I’m holler nuff to eat raw dog.” – from Erskine Caldwell’s short story Country Full of Swedes (1935)
- “His feet felt holler.” – from Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ memoir Cross Creek (1942)
In these texts, “holler” evokes a vivid sense of emptiness, appetite, and desperation. This imaginative slang use compounds the echoing connotation from its origins referring to vocalized shouts across valleys.
Regional Differences
Use of “holler” as slang for “hollow” appears mainly in dialects of the Southern United States, especially in Appalachia and surrounding mountainous regions, as well as parts of the rural South and Ozarks.
This may partly relate to the geography of valleys and hills where voices tend to reverberate and “holler.” It may also connect to the relative isolation and perceived backwoods culture of some rural Southern areas where this slang usage persists.
Additionally, subsistence living and lack of food during times of poverty in parts of the historic rural South potentially led to frequent feelings of hunger and hollowness for some. Using “holler” as slang expressed this sensation.
Other English Dialects
In other forms of English such as British English, Australian English, and Indian English, “holler” is not typically used to mean “hollow.” Some exceptions exist where Southern American slang has crossed over, but this usage is generally uncommon outside the Southern US region.
Speakers of other English dialects understand “holler” mainly in the shouting or small valley meanings instead. They would likely interpret “holler” to mean “hollow” as an Americanism unless previously familiar with Southern slang and diction.
Usage in Popular Culture
Use of “holler” to mean “hollow” has extended beyond regional Southern speech into wider American popular culture through movies, TV, music, and more. For example:
- In the Johnny Cash song Man in Black (1971) he sings about going “back home where they call the hollow ‘holler.'”
- On the TV show The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-85) set in fictional Hazzard County, Georgia, characters frequently said they were “hollering inside” for food.
- In the horror film Wrong Turn (2003) set in West Virginia, a character observes feeling “like my gut’s holler.”
Through conveyed Southern dialect and references to rural Appalachia, use of “holler” for “hollow” inserts regional authenticity and color into the dialogue. Beyond just hunger, it can evoke a sense of poverty and desperation associated with historical rural Southern life.
Conclusion
In summary, the slang term “holler” meaning “hollow” grew out of the shared linguistic origins of these words referring to emptiness and echoing spaces. Through Southern American regional dialects, “holler” came to indicate hunger and lack in addition to its other meanings like shouting and small valleys.
While less common outside Southern speech, use of “holler” for “hollow” endures in writing and pop culture representing historical rural life. The term creatively combines sound, space, poverty, and desperation in compact yet vivid slang.