Date: Sun, 19 Mar 1995 00:28:14 CST
From: "Donald M. Lance" ENGDL[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MIZZOU1.BITNET
Subject: Re: Chuck/Potholes
DARE found 'chughole' to be a South Midland term (see their map*), but
apparently no regionality was found for 'chuckhole'. I suspect that
'pothole' is the "standard" for tv etc, as that's what I hear.
These terms have been discussed in some source I used in my dialect
class, I think. And there's the folk speculation that chuckholes are
caused by woodchucks (preumably in fields). I've always free-associated
'chughole' with chugging through them in a car with weak springs.
DARE says "uncert" of the origin of 'chuckhole'.
*map: 'chughole' in KY, TN, TX and just over the line in IN and OK.
DMLance