In Appalachian and Southern speech, "waller" means 1) to roll around or sprawl out, usually in mud, dirt, or water, 2) sulking or lazing around, or, 3) kids and pets climbing all over you in a smothering way (think: 'quit that wallerin' me!')
- To sulk, laze, or stew in feelings (verb, figurative)
About a neighbor
Elmer:
He’s just wallerin’ 'cause he seein' 'at girl no more.
Estel:
Time to find a new hobby.
- To crowd, climb on, or smother someone (verb)
With the kids
Estel:
These little'uns been wallerin’ me all day, climbin’ and hangin’ on.
Elmer:
You need to go waller in whatever your dog did. That'll learn 'em.
variations: wallow, wallerin’, wallerin’ around
★ Though related to "wallow," the hillbilly form "waller" is rougher and more playful. It’s the go-to word for hogs, kids, pets, and anybody makin’ a mess of themselves - or stewin’ in a mood. ★
Origin and Etymology
From Old English *wealwian* ("to roll about"), which became "wallow." Appalachian and Southern speech shifted the form to "waller," a variant that stuck in rural talk.
Usage Notes
Still widely heard in Appalachian and Southern families. Used for hogs in the mud, folks who are lazin’ or sulkin’, and kids or pets climbin’ all over somebody. Often said by itself: "He’s wallerin’," with no need to name what in.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it loose: "wah-lur." The "er" often drops off: "wallerin’."
Yes - it’s the Appalachian/Southern form of the same word.
Do people still use it today?
Absolutely - especially in farm talk and family life.
Can it be positive?
Sometimes - hogs wallerin’ are happy hogs. With people, it’s usually a scoldin’ or complaint.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 18). Waller. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/waller
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Waller." HillbillySlang.com, 18 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/waller.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Waller." HillbillySlang.com. September 18, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/waller.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
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