Past tense of collar, meaning to catch, seize, or apprehend someone, often by grabbing them by the collar. To confront or detain someone, typically in an authoritative manner.
From 'collar' (from Old French coler, from Latin collare meaning neck band) used as a verb meaning to seize by the collar. The figurative sense of catching or apprehending someone developed in the 18th century from the literal action of grabbing someone's collar to stop or control them.
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