collar
Preserved but no longer current.
"out of COLLAR," i.e., out of place, no work. Probably a variation of the metaphorical expressions, "in, or out of harness," i.e., in or out of work—the horse being in collar when harnessed for his work. COLLAR work is any very hard work, from the expression among drivers. Any uphill journey is said to be all "COLLAR work" for the horses.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “collar” mean?
"out of COLLAR," i.e., out of place, no work. Probably a variation of the metaphorical expressions, "in, or out of harness," i.e., in or out of work—the horse being in collar when harnessed for his work. COLLAR work is any very hard work, from the expression among drivers. Any uphill journey is said to be all "COLLAR work" for the horses.
Is “collar” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.