Colin Clout and his lassie, referred to in the last book of the Faery Queen, are Spenser and his wife Elizabeth, elsewhere called “Mirabella” (1596).

COLIN CLOUT’S COME HOME AGAIN.  “Colin Clout” is Spenser, who had been to London on a visit to “the Shepherd of the Ocean” (Sir Walter Raleigh), in 1589; on his return to Kilcolman, in Ireland, he wrote this poem.  “Hobbinol,” his friend (Gabriel Harvey, L.L.D.), tells him how all the shepherds had missed him, and begs him to relate to him and them his adventures while abroad.  The pastoral contains a eulogy of British contemporary poets, and of the court beauties of Queen Elizabeth (1591). (See COLYN.)

COLIN TAMPON, the nickname of a Swiss, as John Bull means an Englishman, etc.

COLKITTO (Young), or “Vich Alister More,” or “Alister M’Donnell,” a Highland chief in the army of Montrose.—­Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (time, Charles I.).

COLLEAN (May), the heroine of a Scotch ballad, which relates how “fause Sir John” carried her to a rock for the purpose of throwing her down into the sea; but May outwitted him, and subjected him to the same fate he had designed for her.

COLLEEN’, i.e. “girl;” Colleen bawn ("the blond girl"); Colleen rhue ("the red-haired girl"), etc.

[Illustration] Dion Boucicault has a drama entitled The Colleen Bawn, founded upon Gerald Griffin’s novel The Collegians.

COLLIER (Jem), a smuggler.—­Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.)

COLLINGWOOD AND THE ACORNS.  Collingwood never saw a vacant place in his estate, but he took an acorn out of his pocket and popped it in.—­Thackeray, Vanity Fair (1848).

COLMAL, daughter of Dunthalmo, Lord of Teutha (the Tweed).  Her father, having murdered Rathmor in his halls, brought up the two young sons of the latter, Calthon and Colmar, in his own house; but when grown to manhood he thought he detected a suspicious look about them, and he shut them up in two separate caves on the banks of the Tweed, intending to kill them.  Colmal, who was in love with Calthon, set him free, and the two made good their escape to the court of Fingal.  Fingal sent Ossian with 300 men to liberate Colmar; but when Dunthalmo heard thereof, he murdered the prisoner.  Calthon, being taken captive, was bound to an oak, but was liberated by Ossian, and joined in marriage to Colmal, with whom he lived lovingly in the halls of Teutha.—­Ossian, Calthon and Colmal.

COLMAR, brother of Calthon.  When quite young their father was murdered by Dunthalmo, who came against him by night, and killed him in his banquet hall; but moved by pity, he brought up the two boys in his own house.  When grown to manhood, he thought he observed mischief in their looks, and therefore shut them up in two separate cells on the banks of the Tweed.  Colmal the daughter of Dunthalmo, who was in love with Calthon, liberated him from his bonds, and they fled to Fingal to crave aid on behalf of Colmar; but before succor could arrive, Dunthalmo had Colmar brought before him, “bound with a thousand thongs,” and slew him with his spear.—­Ossian, Calthon and Colmal.