waller
To roll and sprawl in mud, dirt, or a mess. Dialect wallow.
Also called wallow, hog waller.
Updated September 24, 2026
waller pronunciation
/WAH-lur/
Meaning
What hogs do in a wet hole behind the barn, and what dogs do when they find something awful to roll in. Kids can waller all over you on the couch. Folks also say somebody is wallerin' when they are lazing or stewing in a mood. Hog waller is the muddy pit itself, and sometimes a joking name for a back-road place.
How folks use it
- “That dog found something nasty to waller in again.”
- “Quit wallerin' on the clean quilt.”
Origin and etymology
Southern and South Midland pronunciation of wallow, from Old English wealwian, to roll about. DARE records waller across that region, including Appalachia. Farm talk kept the muddy sense strong, then stretched it to kids, pets, and lazy moods.
Frequently asked questions
Is waller different from wallow?
Same word. Waller is how a lot of Southern and mountain mouths say it.