coldslaw: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very rare / ArchaicInformal, Archaic, Regional
Quick answer
What does “coldslaw” mean?
A variant of 'coleslaw', referring to a salad made primarily of finely shredded raw cabbage, sometimes mixed with other vegetables and dressed with mayonnaise or a vinaigrette.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A variant of 'coleslaw', referring to a salad made primarily of finely shredded raw cabbage, sometimes mixed with other vegetables and dressed with mayonnaise or a vinaigrette.
This variant spelling of coleslaw may sometimes appear in older texts or regional usage, referring to the same dish. It is now an uncommon, nonstandard spelling.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The standard form in both varieties is 'coleslaw'. 'Coldslaw' is a historical/archaic variant that may occasionally be found in older texts or regional dialects in either country, but it is not standard in modern English anywhere.
Connotations
The 'coldslaw' variant may be perceived as quaint, old-fashioned, or possibly a mistake by modern readers and listeners.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage. Most major dictionaries label it as a variant of 'coleslaw'. Corpus data shows 'coleslaw' is the overwhelmingly dominant form.
Grammar
How to Use “coldslaw” in a Sentence
[VERB] coldslaw (e.g., serve, prepare)coldslaw [VERB] (e.g., accompanied, consisted)[ADJECTIVE] coldslaw (e.g., creamy, simple)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coldslaw” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The coldslaw recipe was in her grandmother's handwritten cookbook.
American English
- They ordered a coldslaw side with their barbecue.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Unlikely to appear, except perhaps in historical contexts or branding of traditional food products.
Academic
Potentially appears in linguistic studies of folk etymology or historical dialectology.
Everyday
Very rare. If used, it would be in informal contexts discussing food, possibly by older speakers or in specific regional pockets.
Technical
Not used in culinary science; the standard term 'coleslaw' is preferred.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coldslaw”
- Spelling it as 'coldslaw' in modern writing is considered a mistake or archaism; use 'coleslaw'.
- Pronouncing 'coleslaw' as /ˈkəʊldslɔː/ based on seeing the 'coldslaw' spelling.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a historical variant of 'coleslaw', but it is nonstandard and very rare in modern English. 'Coleslaw' is the only correct spelling for contemporary use.
In the folk-etymology version, it refers to the salad being served cold. However, the original Dutch word 'koolsla' means 'cabbage salad'.
Always use 'coleslaw'. Using 'coldslaw' will likely be seen as a spelling error or an affectation.
No major English-speaking region uses it as a standard form. It may persist in isolated dialects or as a family-specific term, but it is obsolete in general usage.
A variant of 'coleslaw', referring to a salad made primarily of finely shredded raw cabbage, sometimes mixed with other vegetables and dressed with mayonnaise or a vinaigrette.
Coldslaw is usually informal, archaic, regional in register.
Coldslaw: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkəʊldslɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkoʊldslɔː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this variant spelling.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think COLD SLAW: it's a COLD salad (SLAW is an old word for salad). This helps remember the folk etymology behind the variant spelling.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable for this specific culinary term.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the standard, modern spelling for the cabbage salad dish?