The word Kol is probably the Santali _har_, a man.

"This word is used under various forms, such as _har, hara, ho_ and _koro_ by most Munda tribes in order to denote themselves.

The change of _r_ to _l_ is familiar and presents no difficulty." [70] The word is also found in the alternative name Ho for the Kol tribe, and in the names of the cognate Korwa and Korku tribes.

The word Munda is a Sanskrit derivative meaning a head, and, as stated by Sir H.Risley, is the common term employed by the Kols for the headman of a village, whence it has been adopted as an honorific title for the tribe.

In Chota Nagpur those Kols who have partly adopted Hinduism and become to some degree civilised are called Munda, while the name Ho or Larka (fighting) Kol is reserved for the wilder section of the tribe.
36.