cullion en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈkʌl.jən/ (General-American)
- /ˈkʌl.jən/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From Middle English coilon, borrowed from Old French coillon (“testicle, vile fellow, coward, dupe”), from Vulgar Latin *cōleōnem, from Latin cōleus (“sack, scrotum”). Doublet of culeus and cojones.
Meanings
-
(obsolete, plural-normally) Synonym of testicle.
As touching the galls, which by ouermuch riding on horseback be incident to the twist and the inner parts of the thigh, as euery man knoweth full well, which do burne and chaufe the skin in those parts; the fomie slime which a horse yeeldeth, as well from his mouth as his cullions, is soueraigne therefore, if the place be annointed therwith.
1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book XXVIII.] 15.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], (please specify |tome=1 or 2), London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 334:[…] the kings enimies were vanquished, and put to flight, in which flight, the earle of Dowglas, for hast, falling from the crag of an hie mounteine, brake one of his cullions, and was taken, and for his valiantnesse, of the king frankelie and freelie deliuered.
1587, Raphael Holinshed, “Henrie the fourth, cousine germane to Richard the second, latelie depriued”, in Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande, London: John Harison et al, page 523:
-
(archaic, offensive) Synonym of asshole or bollocks, a mean, vile, or otherwise contemptible person.
He weares a lords reuenewe on his back, And Midas like he iets it in the court, With base outlandish cullions at his heeles,
1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […], published 1622, →OCLC, (please specify the page):‘How, now, scullions and cullions: bring hither a pair of cow’s hooves to out face this contumelious caitiff.’
1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 44:Mistake no more; I am not Licio. Nor a musician as I seem to be; But one that scorn to live in this disguise For such a one as leaves a gentleman And makes a god of such a cullion.
c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| cullions | Number=Plur | lexicographic |