everything has been done in accordance with the present system of
figures. The phrase refers to the celebrated writing-master of Charles
II.’s time, whose Arithmetic, Dictionary, &c., were long the standard
authorities. The Arithmetic was first published in 1677-8, and, though
it reached more than sixty editions, is considered a very scarce book.
Professor de Morgan says that the main goodness of Cocker’s _Tutor_
consists in his adopting the abbreviated system of division; and
suggests that it became a proverbial representative of arithmetic from
Murphy’s farce of _The Apprentice_, 1756, in which the strong point of
the old merchant, Wingate, is his extreme reverence for Cocker and his
arithmetic. A curious fact may here be mentioned in connexion with this
saying. It has been stated, and very well proved, that many words
popular in Shakspeare’s time, and now obsolete in this country, are
still in every-day use in the older English settlements of North
America. The original compiler of this work was surprised, when
travelling through Western Canada, to find that, instead of the renowned
Cocker, the people appealed to another and more learned authority.
“According to Gunter,” is a phrase in continual Transatlantic use. This
scientific worthy invented the sector in 1606; and in 1623, about the
time of the great Puritan exodus to North America, he brought out his
famous _Rule of Proportion_. This was popularly known as Gunter’s
Proportion, or _Gunter’s Line_, and the term soon became a vulgar
standard of appeal in cases of doubt or dispute.
~Cock-eye~, a term of opprobrium often applied to one that squints.
~Cockles~, “to rejoice the COCKLES of one’s heart,” a vulgar phrase
implying great pleasure. Also, to “warm one’s COCKLES,” said of any hot,
well-spiced drink, taken in cold weather. COCKLES altogether seem to be
an imaginary portion—of great importance—in the internal economy of
the human frame.
~Cockney~, a native of London. Originally, a spoilt or effeminate boy,
derived from COCKERING, or foolishly petting a person, rendering him of
soft and luxurious manners. Halliwell states, in his admirable essay
upon the word, that “some writers trace the word with much probability
to the imaginary land of COCKAYGNE, the lubber land of the olden times.”
Grose gives Minsheu’s absurd but comical derivation:—A citizen of
London being in the country, and hearing a horse neigh, exclaimed,
“Lord! how that horse laughs!” A bystander informed him that the noise
was called neighing. The next morning when the cock crowed, the citizen,
to show that he had not forgotten what was told him, cried out, “Do you
hear how the COCK NEIGHS?”—_See_ MARE’S NEST.
~Cock of the walk~, a master spirit, head of a party. Places where
poultry are fed are called WALKS, and the barn door cocks invariably
fight for the supremacy till one has obtained it. At schools where this
phrase was originally much used, it has been diminished to “COCK” only.
~Cock one’s toes~, to die. Otherwise “turn-up one’s toes.”
~Cock-robin shop~, a small printing-office, where cheap and nasty work
is done and low wages are paid.
~Cocks~, fictitious narratives, in verse or prose, of murders, fires,
and terrible accidents, sold in the streets as true accounts. The man
who hawks them, a patterer, often changes the scene of the awful event
to suit the taste of the neighbourhood he is trying to delude. Possibly
a corruption of _cook_, a cooked statement, or maybe “the story of a
cock and a bull” may have had something to do with the term.
Improvements in newspapers, especially in those published in the
evening, and increased scepticism on the part of the public, have
destroyed this branch of a once-flourishing business.
~Cockshy~, a game at fairs and races, where trinkets are set upon
sticks, and for one penny three throws at them are accorded, the thrower
keeping whatever he knocks off. From the ancient game of throwing or
“shying” at live cocks. Any prominent person abused in the newspapers is
said to be a common COCKSHY.
~Cocksure~, certain.
~Cocky~, pert, saucy.
~Cocoa-nut~, the head. A pugilistic term. Also, when anything is
explained to a man for the first time, it is not unusual for him to say,
“Ah, that accounts for the milk in the cocoa-nut”—a remark which has
its origin in a clever but not very moral story.
~Cocum~, shrewdness, ability, luck; “Jack’s got COCUM, he’s safe to get
on, he is,”—viz., he starts under favourable circumstances; “to fight
COCUM” is to be wily and cautious. Allied perhaps to the Scottish KEEK,
_German_, GUCKEN, to peep or pry into.
~Cod~, to hoax, to take a “rise” out of one. Used as a noun, a fool.
~Coddam~, a public-house game, much affected by medical students and
cabmen, generally three on each side. The game is “simplicity itself,”
but requires a great amount of low cunning and peculiar mental
ingenuity. It consists in guessing in which of the six hands displayed
on the table, a small piece of marked money lies hid. If the guesser
“brings it home,” his side takes the “piece,” and the centre man “works”
it. If the guess is wrong, a chalk is taken to the holders, who again
secrete the coin. Great fun is to be obtained from this game when it is
properly played.
~Codds~, the “poor brethren” of the Charter House. In _The Newcomes_,
Thackeray writes, “The Cistercian lads call these old gentlemen CODDS; I
know not wherefore.” A probable abbreviation of CODGER.
~Codger~, or COGER, an old man; “a rum old CODGER,” a curious old
fellow. CODGER is sometimes used as synonymous with CADGER, and then
signifies a person who gets his living in a questionable manner.
“COGERS,” the name of a debating society, formerly held in Shoe Lane,
Fleet Street, and still in existence. The term is probably a corruption
of COGITATORS.
~Coffee-Shop~, a watercloset, or house of office.
~Cog~, to cheat at dice.—_Shakspeare._ Also, to agree with, as one
cog-wheel does with another, to crib from another’s book, as schoolboys
often do. This is called “cogging over.”
~Cogged~, loaded like false dice. Any one who has been hocussed or
cheated is sometimes said to have been COGGED.
~Coin~, “to post the COIN”—sometimes “post the coal”—a sporting phrase
meaning to make a deposit of money for a match of any kind.
~Cold blood~, a house licensed for the sale of beer “NOT to be drunk on
the premises.”
~Cold coffee~, misfortune; sometimes varied to COLD GRUEL. An unpleasant
return for a proffered kindness is sometimes called COLD COFFEE.—_Sea._
~Cold coffee~, an Oxford synonym for a “sell,” which _see_.
~Cold cook~, an undertaker. Cold cook’s shop, an undertaker’s.
~Cold meat~, a corpse. COLD-MEAT BOX, a coffin.
~Cold meat train~, the last train at night by which officers can reach
Aldershot per South Western Railway. So called because by this train
corpses are often conveyed on account of the Necropolis Company to
Woking.
~Cold shoulder~, “to show or give any one the COLD SHOULDER” is to “cut”
in a modified form, to assume a distant manner towards anybody, to
evince a desire to cease acquaintanceship. Sometimes termed “COLD
SHOULDER of mutton.”
~Colfabias~, a Latinized Irish phrase signifying the closet of decency,
applied as a slang term to a place of resort in Trinity College, Dublin.
~Collar~, “out of COLLAR,” _i.e._, out of place, no work. Probably a
variation of the metaphorical expressions, “in, or out of harness,”
_i.e._, in or out of work—the horse being in collar when harnessed for
his work. COLLAR work is any very hard work, from the expression among
drivers. Any uphill journey is said to be all “COLLAR work” for the
horses.
~Collar~, to seize, to lay hold of. Thieves’ slang, _i.e._, to steal.
~Collar and elbow~, a term for a peculiar style of wrestling—the
Cornwall and Devon style.
~Collections~, the College examinations at the end of each term, when
undergraduates wear white ties and bands, and are trotted through the
subjects of the term’s lecture. These are the occasions when the dons
administer reproof or advice on the conduct of each individual
undergrad.—_Oxford University._
~Collogue~, to conspire, talk mysteriously together in low tones, plot
mischief. Connected with “colloquy” or “colleague.” Maybe mixture of
both.
~Colly-wobbles~, the stomach-ache, a person’s bowels,—supposed by many
to be the seat of feeling and nutrition.—_Devonshire._
~Colour~, complexion, tint; “I’ve not seen the COLOUR of his money,”
_i.e._, he has never paid me any. In fortune-telling by cards, a
_diamond colour_ is the fairest; _heart-colour_, fair, but not so fair
as the last; _club colour_, rather dark; _spade colour_, an extremely
swarthy complexion.
~Colour~, a handkerchief worn by each of the supporters of a
professional athlete on the day of a match, so as to distinguish them
from the partizans of the other side. The professional chooses his
colours, and his backers, and as many of the general public as can be
persuaded to do so, take one each to wear on the eventful day, the
understanding being that the man is to be paid, say, a guinea if he
wins, and nothing if he loses. Some of these handkerchiefs used to be,
in the palmy days of pugilism and professional rowing on the Thames,
very fine specimens of work; but as their purveyors expected to be paid
whether they won or lost, and as the price was generally about four
times the intrinsic value, colours are rather shyly dealt with now. The
custom is, however, a very ancient one, and such men as Tom Sayers, Tom
King, Harry Kelley, and Bob Chambers have, even in these degenerate
days, received very large sums for their winning colours.
~Colt~, a murderous weapon, formed by slinging a small shot to the end
of a rather stiff piece of rope. It is the original of the misnamed
“life-preserver.”
~Colt~, a person who sits as juryman for the first time. In Cork an
operative baker who does not belong to the union.
~Colt~, a professional cricketer during his first season. From the best
colts in the annual match are selected new county players.
~Colt~, to fine a new juryman a sum to be spent in drink, by way of
“wetting” his office; to make a person free of a new place, which is
done by his standing treat, and submitting to be struck on the sole of
the foot with a piece of board.
~Colt’s tooth~, elderly persons of juvenile tastes are said to have a
COLT’S TOOTH, _i.e._, a desire to shed their teeth once more, to see
life over again.
~Comb-cut~, mortified, disgraced, “down on one’s luck.”—_See_ CUT.
~Come~, a slang verb used in many phrases; “Aint he COMING IT?” _i.e._,
is he not proceeding at a great rate? “Don’t COME TRICKS here,” “don’t
COME THE OLD SOLDIER over me,” _i.e._, we are aware of your practices,
and “twig” your manœuvre. COMING IT STRONG, exaggerating, going ahead,
the opposite of “drawing it mild.” COMING IT also means informing or
disclosing. Also, in pugilistic phraseology, to COME IT means to show
fear; and in this respect, as well as in that of giving information, the
expression “COME IT” is best known to the lower and most dangerous
classes.
~Come down~, to pay down.
~Commemoration~, the end of Lent term at Oxford, when honorary degrees
are conferred and certain prizes given, and when men have friends “up.”
~Commission~, a shirt.—_Ancient Cant._ _Italian_, CAMICIA.
“As from our beds, we doe oft cast our eyes,
Cleane linnen yeelds a shirt before we rise,
Which is a garment _shifting_ in condition;
And in the _canting tongue_ is a COMMISSION.
In weale or woe, in joy or dangerous drifts,
A _shirt_ will put a man unto his _shifts_.”
—_Taylor’s Works_, 1630.
For further particulars, _see_ CAMESA.
~Commister~, a chaplain or clergyman.—Originally _Old Cant_.
~Common sewer~, a DRAIN,—vulgar equivalent for a drink.
~Commons~, the allowance of anything sent out of the buttery or kitchen.
“A COMMONS of bread,” or “of cheese,” for instance.—_University._ SHORT
COMMONS (derived from the University slang term), a scanty meal, a
scarcity.
~Competition wallah~, one who entered the Indian Civil Service by
passing a competitive examination.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Compo~, a sailor’s term for his monthly advance of wages.
~Comprador~, a purveyor, an agent.—_Originally Spanish, now
Anglo-Chinese._
~Concaves and convexes~, a pack of cards contrived for cheating, by
cutting all the cards from the two to the seven concave, and all from
the eight to the king convex. Then by cutting the pack breadthwise a
convex card is cut, and by cutting it lengthwise a concave is
secured.—_See_ LONGS AND SHORTS.
[Illustration]
~Conjee~, a kind of gruel made of rice.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Conk~, a nose. Possibly from the _Latin_, CONCHA, a shell. _Greek_,
κόγχη—hence anything hollow. Somewhat of a parallel may be found in the
_Latin_, TESTA, an earthenware pot, a shell, and in later _Latin_, a
_skull_; from whence the _French_ TESTE, or TÊTE, head. CONKY, having a
projecting or remarkable nose. The first Duke of Wellington was
frequently termed “Old CONKY” in satirical papers and caricatures.
~Connaught Rangers~, the Eighty-eighth Regiment of Foot in the British
Army.
~Conshun’s price~, fair terms, without extortion. Probably conscience
price.—_Anglo-Chinese._
~Constable~, “to overrun the CONSTABLE,” to exceed one’s income, or get
deep in debt. The origin of this phrase is unknown, but its use is very
general.
~Constitutional~, a walk, or other exercise taken for the benefit of the
health.
~Consumah~, a butler.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Contango~, among stockbrokers and jobbers, is a certain sum paid for
accommodating a buyer or seller, by carrying the engagement to pay money
or deliver shares over to the next account day.
~Continuations~, coverings for the legs, whether trousers or breeches. A
word belonging to the same squeamish, affected family as unmentionables,
inexpressibles, &c.
~Convey~, to steal; “CONVEY, the wise it call.”
~Conveyancer~, a pickpocket. Shakspeare uses the cant expression
CONVEYER, a thief. The same term is also French slang.
~Cooey~, the Australian bush-call, now not unfrequently heard in the
streets of London.
~Cook~, a term well known in the Bankruptcy Courts, in reference to
accounts that have been meddled with, or COOKED, by the bankrupt; also
to form a balance-sheet from general trade inferences; stated by a
correspondent to have been first used in reference to the celebrated
alteration of the accounts of the Eastern Counties Railway, by George
Hudson, the Railway King. Any unfair statements of accounts or reports
are now said to be COOKED.
~Cook~, in artistic circles, to dodge up a picture. Artists say that a
picture will not COOK when it is excellent and unconventional, and
beyond specious imitation.
~Cook one’s goose~, to kill or ruin a person.—_North._
~Cooler~, a glass of porter as a wind up, after drinking spirits and
water. This form of drinking is sometimes called “putting the beggar on
the gentleman.”
~Coolie~, a soldier, in allusion to the Hindoo COOLIES, or day
labourers.
~Coon~, abbreviation of racoon.—_American._ A GONE COON—_ditto_, one
in an awful fix, past praying for. This expression is said to have
originated in the first American war with a spy, who dressed himself in
a racoon skin, and ensconced himself in a tree. An English rifleman
taking him for a veritable coon, levelled his piece at him, upon which
he exclaimed, “Don’t shoot, I’ll come down of myself, I know I’m a GONE
COON.” The Yankees say the Britisher was so “flummuxed,” that he flung
down his rifle and “made tracks” for home. The phrase is pretty general
in England. [There is one difficulty about this story—How big was the
man who dressed himself in a racoon skin?]
~Cooper~, “stout half-and-half,” _i.e._, half stout and half porter.
Derived from the coopers at breweries being allowed so much stout and so
much porter a day, which they take mixed.
~Cooper~, to destroy, spoil, settle, or finish. COOPERED, spoilt, “done
up,” synonymous with the Americanism caved in, fallen in, ruined. The
vagabonds’ hieroglyph ▽, chalked by them on gate posts and houses,
signifies that the place has been spoilt by too many tramps calling
there.
~Cooper~, to forge, or imitate in writing; “COOPER a monniker,” to forge
a signature.
~Cooter~, “a sovereign.”—_See_ COUTER. Gipsy, CUTA.
~Cop~, to seize or lay hold of anything unpleasant; used in a similar
sense to _catch_ in the phrase “to COP (or catch) a beating.” “To get
COPT,” is to be taken by the police. Probable contraction of Lat.
_capere_.
~Cop~, beware, take care. A contraction of COPRADOR.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Coper~, properly HORSE-COUPER, a Scotch horse-dealer,—used to denote a
dishonest one. COPING, like jockeying, is suggestive of all kinds of
trickery.
~Copper~, a policeman, _i.e._, one who COPS, which _see_.
~Copper~, a halfpenny. COPPERS, mixed pence.
~Coppernose~, a nose which is supposed to show a partiality on its
owner’s part for strong drink. Synonymous with “jolly nose.”
Grog-blossoms are the jewels often set in a jolly nose.
~Copus~, a Cambridge drink, consisting of ale combined with spices, and
varied by spirits, wines, &c. Corruption of HIPPOCRAS.
~Corduroy roads~, an American term for the rough roads made by simply
laying logs along a clearing.
~Corinthianism~, a term derived from the classics, much in vogue some
years ago, implying pugilism, high life, “sprees,” roystering,
&c.—Shakspeare, 1 _Hen. IV._ ii. 4. The immorality of _Corinth_ was
proverbial in Greece. Κορινθιάζεσθαι, to _Corinthianize_, indulge in
the company of courtezans, was a Greek slang expression. Hence the
proverb—
Οὐ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς εἰς Κόρινθον ἔσθ᾿ ὁ πλοῦς;
and _Horace_, Epist. lib. 1, xvii. 36—
“Non cuivis hommi contingit adire Corinthum,”
in allusion to the spoliation practised by the “hetæræ” on those who
visited them. Pierce Egan, in his _Life in London_, is responsible for a
deal of the modern use of this word; and after him _Bell’s Life_, as the
oracle of Corinthian sport, was not idle.
~Cork~, a broken man, a bankrupt. Probably intended to refer to his
lightness, as being without “ballast.”
~Cork~, “to draw a CORK,” to give a bloody nose.—_Pugilistic._
~Corkage~, money charged when persons at an hotel provide their own
wine—sixpence being charged for each “cork” drawn.
~Corked~, said of wine which tastes of cork, from being badly decanted,
or which has lost flavour from various other obvious causes.
~Corker~, “that’s a CORKER,” _i.e._, that settles the question, or
closes the discussion.
~Corks~, a butler. Derivation very obvious.
~Corks~, money; “how are you off for CORKS?” a sailors’ term of a very
expressive kind, denoting the means of “keeping afloat.”
~Corned~, drunk or intoxicated. Possibly from soaking or pickling
oneself like CORNED beef.
~Corner~, “the CORNER,” Tattersall’s famous horse repository and betting
rooms, so called from the fact of its situation, which was at Hyde Park
Corner. Though Tattersall’s has been removed some distance, to Albert
Gate, it is still known to the older habitués of the Subscription Room
as “the CORNER.”
~Cornered~, hemmed in a corner, placed in a position from which there is
no escape.
~Corner-man~, the end singer of a corps of Ethiopian or nigger
minstrels. There are two corner men, one generally plays the bones and
the other the tambourine. Corner-men are the grotesques of a minstrel
company.
~Corn in Egypt~, a popular expression which means a plentiful supply of
materials for a dinner, &c., or a good supply of money. Its origin is of
course Biblical.
~Corporation~, the protuberant front of an obese person. Probably from
the old announcements which used to be made, and are made now in some
towns where improvements are made by the municipal authorities, “Widened
at the expense of the CORPORATION.”
~Corpse~, to stick fast in the dialogue; to confuse, or put out the
actors by making a mistake.—_Theatrical._
~Cosh~, a neddy, a life-preserver; any short, loaded bludgeon.
~Cossack~, a policeman.
~Costard~, the head. A very old word, generally used in connexion with
“cracked.”
~Coster~, the short and slang rendering of “costermonger,” or
“costardmonger,” who was originally an apple-seller. COSTERING, _i.e._,
costermongering, acting as a costermonger would.
~Costermonger~, a street seller of fish, fruit, vegetables, poultry,
&c. The London costermongers number more than 30,000. They form a
distinct class, occupying whole neighbourhoods, and were at one time cut
off from the rest of metropolitan society by their low habits, general
improvidence, pugnacity, love of gambling, total want of education,
disregard for lawful marriage ceremonies, and their use of a peculiar
slang language. They have changed a good deal of this, though, now.
COSTERMONGER _aliter_ COSTARDMONGER, _i.e._, an apple-seller. In Nares’s
_Glossary_ (Ed. H. & W.) they are said to have been frequently Irish.
So, Ben Jonson—
“Her father was an Irish COSTAR-MONGER.”
_Alchym._, iv. x.
“In England, sir, troth I ever laugh when I think on ’t,
----Why, sir, there all the COSTER-MONGERS are Irish.”
_2 P. Hen. IV., O. Pl._, iii. 375.
Their noisy manners are alluded to in Beaumont and Fletcher’s _Scornful
Lady_, iv. I.
“And then he’ll rail like a rude COSTER-MONGER
That school-boys had couzened of his apples,
As loud and senseless.”
~Cotton~, to like, adhere to, or agree with any person; “to COTTON on to
a man,” to attach yourself to him, or fancy him, literally, to stick to
him as cotton would. _Vide_ Bartlett, who claims it as an Americanism,
and Halliwell, who terms it an archaism; also _Bacchus and Venus_, 1737.
“Her heart’s as hard as taxes, and as bad;
She does not even COTTON to her dad.”
_Halliday and Lawrance_, _Kenilworth Burlesque_.
~Cotton Lord~, a Manchester manufacturer.
~Cottonopolis~, Manchester. A term much in use among the reporters of
the sporting press engaged in that locality.
~Council-of-ten~, the toes of a man who turns his feet inward.
~Counter~, to hit back, to exchange blows. A cross COUNTER is a blow
with the right hand given in exchange for one with the left, the
counterer preferring to strike rather than to “stop” the
blow.—_Pugilistic._
~Counter-jumper~, a shopman, a draper’s assistant.
~Country-captain~, a spatch-cocked fowl, sprinkled with curry-powder. A
favourite breakfast dish with the captains of country-ships.—_Indian._
~Country-ship~, a ship belonging to the East Indies, and trading from
port to port in that country.
~County-crop~ (_i.e._, COUNTY-PRISON CROP), haircut close and round, as
if guided by a basin—an indication of having been in prison. Since
short hair has become fashionable the expression has fallen somewhat
into disuse. In the times when long hair was worn, a man with his hair
cut as described was said to have had it done with a knife and fork.
~Couple-beggar~, a degraded person, who officiated as a clergyman in
performing marriages in the Fleet Prison.
~Couter~, a sovereign. HALF-A-COUTER, half-a-sovereign. From the
Danubian-gipsy word CUTA, a gold coin.
~Cove~, or COVEY, a boy or man of any age or station. A term generally
preceded by an expressive adjective, thus a “flash COVE,” a “rum COVE,”
a “downy COVE,” &c. The feminine, COVESS, was once popular, but it has
fallen into disuse. Originally ancient cant (temp. Henry VII.), COFE, or
CUFFIN, altered in Decker’s time to COVE. _See Witts’ Recreations_,
1654: “there’s a gentry-COVE here,” _i.e._, a gentleman. Probably
connected with CUIF, which, in the North of England, signifies a lout or
awkward fellow. Amongst Negroes, CUFFEE.
~Coventry~, “to send a man to COVENTRY,” not to speak to or notice him.
Coventry was one of those towns in which the privilege of practising
most trades was anciently confined to certain privileged persons, as the
freemen, &c. Hence a stranger stood little chance of custom, or
countenance, and “to send a man to COVENTRY” came to be equivalent to
putting him out of the pale of society.
~Cover-down~, a tossing coin with a false cover, enabling either head or
tail to be shown, according as the cover is left on or taken off. The
cover is more generally called a CAP. This style of cheating is now
obsolete. A man who cannot manage to cheat at tossing without machinery
is a sorry rogue.
~Cowan~, a sneak, an inquisitive or prying person. _Greek_, κύων, a dog.
Term given by Freemasons to all uninitiated persons. Used in Anderson’s
_Constitutions_, edit. 1769, p. 97. If derived from κύων, its use was
probably suggested by such passages in the N. T. as Matt. vii. 6, and
Phil. iii. 2. The Moslems apply dog in a similar manner. It is probably
Oriental. Other authorities say it is from COWAN, or KIRWAN, a Scottish
word signifying a man who builds rough stone walls without mortar—a man
who, though he builds, is not a practical mason.
~Cow-cow~, to be very angry, to scold or reprimand
violently.—_Anglo-Chinese._
~Cow-hocked~, clumsy about the ankles; with large or awkward feet.