Forms: α. 4–5 choll(e, 5 choule. β. 5–6 iolle, 5 iol, 6–7 iole, 7 jolle, joule, (geoule), 7–8 joll, joul, joal, 7–9 jole, jowl. [The forms agree generally with those of JOWL sb.2; but the j forms appear here much earlier, and the ch forms disappear before 1500; in sense 2, the ch forms are not evidenced at all. For these reasons, and on account of the complete distinction of sense, this is treated provisionally as a distinct word; but its origin remains unknown.
The chronology of the forms of this word, and of JOWL sb.1 and 3, suggests that it was in this word that the j forms originated, and that hence they passed in the 16th c. to the two others in which ch was original, so as to level all three under the form jowl, jole. But no extrinsic source of either jolle or cholle in the sense ‘head’ has been found.]
† 1. The head of a man or beast. (In quot. 1562 applied app. to the head or top of an engine of war.) Obs. or ? dial.
α. a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., 501/314. So harde raced he þat Rolle, Þat he chopped his Cholle Aȝeyn þe Marbel-ston [cf. Audelay 77 So hard Rofyn rogud his roll, That he smot with his choule Aȝayns the marbystone].
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 1994. Sunder strake he the throte boll That fra the body went the choll, By the lioun tail the hevid hang yit, For tharby had he tane his bit.
β. c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 264/2. Iol, or heed (K, S, P. iolle), caput.
1562. Phaër, Æneid, IX. Ee ij b. Wher their engine ioynes his iolle, A huge vnweldie weight ye troians rumbling did doun rolle.
1783. Wolcott (P. Pindar), Lyric Odes, V. iv. St. Dennis, when his jowl was taken off, Hugg’d it, and kiss’d it. Ibid. (1795), Pindariana, Wks. 1812, IV. 227. Leeds and Hawkesbury join’d their jowls together.
1825. Brockett, Jowl, the head.
2. spec. The head of a fish; hence (as a cut or dish), the head and shoulders of certain fish, as the salmon, sturgeon and ling.
c. 1430. Two Cookery-bks., 61. Jollys of Samoun.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 622. The Iolle of þe salt sturgeoun thyn take hede ye slytt.
1530. Palsgr., 235/1. Iolle of a fysshe, teste.
1607. Beaum. & Fl., Woman-Hater, I. ii. For the Captain of the Guards Table, three chines of Beef, and two joals of Sturgeon.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., I. V. xvi. Two geoules of sturgeon.
1659–60. Pepys, Diary, 20 Jan. Went … to the Swan in Fish Streete … where we were very merry at our Jole of Ling.
1719. S. Sewall, Diary, 25 March (1882), III. 216. I present his Excellency with a Joll of the Salmon.
1732. Pope, Ep. Cobham, 241. Mercy on my Soul! Is there no hope? Alas!—then bring the Jowl.
1747. Mrs. Glasse, Cookery, ix. 89. To dress a jole of pickled salmon.
1853. Soyer, Pantroph., 225. The jole and belly were thought the most delicate parts.
1859. Thackeray, Virgin., ix. I have kept for your Excellency the jowl of this salmon.
