Georgian · word · noun (plural in form)
Collywobbles
KOL-ee-wob-ulz /ˈkɒlɪwɒb(ə)lz/pronunciation given by a dictionary
First recordedby 1823
A stomach ache or upset stomach ('the gripes'). Later, by extension, a fit of nerves or anxiety. Probably a playful blend of colic and wobble.
Where it was first recorded
Pierce Egan's revised edition of Grose's Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1823.
Also spelled: colly-wobbles, collywabbles
In its own time
COLLYWOBBLES. The gripes.
Today
Modern exampleI always get the collywobbles before a job interview.
Fine to use; a cosy, humorous British word for tummy trouble or nerves.
Questions
What does collywobbles mean?
A stomach ache or upset stomach ('the gripes'). Later, by extension, a fit of nerves or anxiety. Probably a playful blend of colic and wobble.
When was collywobbles first used?
It is first recorded by 1823 — Pierce Egan's revised edition of Grose's Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1823.
Can you still use collywobbles today?
Fine to use; a cosy, humorous British word for tummy trouble or nerves.
Sources
- collywobbles (n.) — Online Etymology Dictionary
- Grose's Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, revised by Pierce Egan (1823) — Internet Archive (scan + OCR)
- collywobbles, n. — Green's Dictionary of Slang
- collywobbles — Merriam-Webster
- collywobbles — Wiktionary
Checked 2026-09-30 · verdict: attested — found in the dictionaries and texts listed above