Anglo-Ind. [ad. Tamil kallar thieves.] The name of a non-Aryan race inhabiting part of India east of Madura; hence, Collery-horn (corrupted into cholera-horn), a long brass horn of hideous sound, often used at native funerals; Collery-stick, a throwing stick or boomerang used by the Colleries (Yule).
1763. Orme, Hist. Mil. Trans., I. 212 (Y.). The Polygar Tondeman … likewise sent 400 horse and 3000 Colleries: these are a people almost savage, who … inhabit the woods between Tritchanopoly and Cape Comarin; their name in their own language signifies Thieves.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. IV. iv. 143. 1120 colleries (irregular troops of the southern Polygars).
1830. J. Welsh, Mil. Remin., I. 130 (Y.). It was he, also, who first taught me to throw the spear, and hurl the collery stick.
1879. Madras Mail, 7 Oct. (Y.). To have the Amildar’s Cholera-horn men out at that hour to sound the reveillé.
