*
• COUCH
n. 1. 1398 – the lair or den of a wild beast → obs.
n. 2. 1460 – a cloth spread upon a table for a meal → obs.
n. 3. 1661 – a layer or coat of paint, varnish, etc.
n. 4. 1834 – the burrow of an otter
n. 5. 1971 – a toilet → US students’ sl. (Bk.)
vb. 1. 1380 – to lie in a place of rest; to lie at rest or in sleep → arch.
vb. 2. 1386 – to submit, to succumb
vb. 3. 1500 – to bow in reverence to obeisance; to curtsy → obs.
vb. 4. 1577 – to put down, to quell, to suppress → obs.
vb. 5. 1577 – to lay in concealment; to hide, to conceal → obs.
vb. 6. 1582 – to lie in ambush, to lurk
vb. 7. 1602 – to bring down, to lower in dignity → obs.
• COUCH A COD’S HEAD
vb. 1570 – to lie down to sleep → sl. obs.
• COUCH A HOG’S HEAD
vb. 1518 – to lie down to sleep → sl. obs.
• COUCH CASE
n. 1969 – a psychotic → US Air Force Academy cadets’ sl. (Bk.)
• COUCHEE
n. 1. 1676 – an assembly of company in the evening; an evening reception
n. 2. 1691 – an obeisance → obs.
• COUCH LIZARD
n. 1954 – one who necks on a couch with his girl → Amer. sl.
• COUCH-MATE
n. 1875 – a bedfellow
• COUCH POTATO
n. 1979 – someone who spends leisure time as passively as possible, esp. watching TV or videos, eats junk food, and takes little or no exercise → sl., orig. US
• COUCH SURFER
n. 1. 1991 – a person who engages in sedentary activities, esp. television watching; a couch potato → colloq., orig. & chiefly US
n. 2. 1993 – a person who sleeps overnight on a couch, etc. as a house guest; one who does this in a series of homes, often as a substitute for permanent housing
• COUGAR DEN
n. 1958 – a bunkhouse → US logging usage
• COUGAR JUICE
n. 1. 1958 – kerosene → US logging usage
n. 2. 1958 – home-made hard liquor → US logging usage
• COUGAR MILK
n. 1958 – home-made hard liquor → Amer. dial.
• COUGAR RUN
n. 1965 – home-made hard liquor → Amer. dial.
• COUGH
n. 1928 – the sound of a bullet or shell being fired or bursting → colloq.
vb. 1. 1901 – to confess; to give information → sl., orig. US
vb. 2. 1925 – to fire shells
• COUGH A DAW
vb. 1529 – to make a fool of, to befool → obs.
• COUGH-AND-SNEEZE
n. 1880 – cheese → rhyming sl.
• COUGH DROP
n. 1895 – a disagreeable person or thing
• COUGHERY
n. 1693 – a coughing place → obs.
• COUGHING CLARA
n. 1945 – a heavy artillery gun → World War II Amer. sl.
• COUGHING SICKNESS
n. 1968 – tuberculosis → Amer. dial.
• COUGH UP
vb. 1. 1393 – to utter; to disclose → obs.
vb. 2. 1894 – to pay out money → sl.
vb. 3. 1966 – to vomit violently → Amer. dial.
• COUGH UP ONE’S COOKIES
vb. 1941 – to vomit → Amer. sl.
• COUILLON
adj. 1967 – stupid, inept → Amer. dial.
n. 1967 – a fool, a hick. an inept person → Amer. dial.
• COULANT
adj. 1632 – flowing → obs.
• COULD CARE LESS
vb. 1966 – to be indifferent to something, not care → US
• COULD EAT A HORSE
phr. 1936 – hungry → sl.
• COULDN’T-CARE-LESS
adj. 1947 – indifferent
vb. 1946 – (as ‘couldn’t care less’) to be indifferent to something, not care
• COULDN’T ORGANIZE A TWO-CAR FUNERAL
phr. 1961 – is incompetent or disorganized → US colloq.
• COULDN’T ORGANIZE A URINE SAMPLE IN A GOLDEN SHOWER
phr. 2005 – used of an inefficient person or organization → UK sl.
• COULEE
n. 1933 – an excessive drinker of whisky → Amer. dial.
• COULIS
n. 1. 1603 – a broth, jelly, or gravy made from the juices of roasted or grilled meat → cookery usage
n. 2. 1952 – a light thin sauce of pureed vegetables (or in desserts, pureed fruits), used esp. as a garnish → cookery usage
• COULISSE
n. 1. 1819 – one of the side scenes of the stage in a theatre
n. 2. 1903 – a corridor
• COULOIR
n. 1855 – a steep gorge or gully on a mountain side
• COULROPHOBIA
n. 1997 – extreme fear of clowns
• COUNCIL POP
n. 1999 – water as a drink, esp. tap water → Brit. sl.
• CO-UNE
adj. 1711 – united together in one → obs.
vb. 1628 – to unite, to combine → obs.
• COUNSELFUL
adj. 1548 – able to give counsel or advice; wise, insightful → obs.
• COUNSEL-KEEPER
n. 1576 – a person who is trusted to keep secrets by another; a confidant → arch.
• COUNT
n. 1950 – the amount → Amer. sl.
• COUNTANT
adj. 1638 – liable to give account, giving account → obs.
• COUNT-CASTER
n. 1576 – a caster of accounts; a calculator → obs.
• COUNT DOMINOES
n. 20C – dominoes whose pips add up to five or ten → sl.
• COUNTER
n. 1. 1330 – encounter, hostile meeting, opposition → obs.
n. 2. 1616 – a debased coin
n. 3. 1626 – the curved part of the stern of a ship → nautical usage
n. 4. 1871 – the contrary, opposite
vb. 1. 1325 – to meet, to encounter → obs.
vb. 2. 1449 – to argue in opposition, to dispute, to retort against → obs.
• COUNTERBANE
n. 1605 – an antidote, a counterpoison → obs.
• COUNTERBUFF
n . 1. 1578 – a blow given in return; the blow or shock of a recoil → obs.
n. 2. 1579 – a rebuff, a check, → obs.
n. 3. 1632 – an encounter; an exchange of blows → obs.
vb. 1579 – to strike in return; to meet a blow with a return blow; to rebuff → arch.
• COUNTERCAMBIATE
adj. 1632 – exchanged each for the other → obs.
• COUNTER-CAMBIO
n. 1592 – counterchange, exchange → obs.
• COUNTER-CASTER
n. 1616 – ‘a word of contempt for an arithmetician’ → obs.
• COUNTER-CATERPILLAR
n. 1706 – ? a constable → obs. sl.
• COUNTERDICT
vb. 1905 – to contradict → Amer. dial.
• COUNTERDRIFT
n. 1602 – a plan, plot, or scheme in opposition → obs.
vb. 1602 – to plan, plot, or contrive in opposition → obs.
• COUNTERFEISANCE
n. 1590 – a counterfeiting; deceit, fraud, imposture → obs.
• COUNTERFEIT
n. 1. 1400 – an image, likeness, portrait; an imitation or representation in painting, sculpture, etc. → obs.
n. 2. 1557 – a deformed or misshapen person → obs.
n. 3. 1574 – a person who imitates another for whom he or she passes himself or herself off; a pretender, an impostor → obs.
• COUNTERFEIT CRANK
n. 1567 – a rogue who feigned sickness in order to move compassion and get money → thieves’ sl., obs.
• COUNTERFEITRESS
n. 1577 – a female counterfeiter → obs.
• COUNTERFRUSH
vb. 1513 – to smash or break in pieces reciprocally → Sc. obs.
• COUNTER-JUMPER
n. 1829 – a shop assistant or shopkeeper → sl., derogatory
• COUNTERMATE
n. 1594 – a rival, an antagonist → obs.
• COUNTERMINE
vb. 1580 – to defeat by a counter-plot
• COUNTERPALACE
n. 1488 – a rival → Sc. obs.
• COUNTERPIECE
n. 1968 – a bedspread → Amer. dial.
• COUNTERPIN
n. 1836 – a bedspread → Amer. dial.
• COUNTERSAY
vb. 1393 – to contradict, to gainsay → obs.
• COUNTER-SCUFFLE
n. 1628 – a scuffle between opposing parties or persons → obs.
• COUNTER-SKIPPER
n. 1858 – a shopman or shopkeeper’s assistant; one who jumps over a counter → contemptuous usage
• COUNTER-SPEECH
n. 1647 – speaking against, contradiction → obs.
• COUNTER-STAND
n. 1870 – a standing against; resistance or withstanding
vb. 1648 – to stand against, to withstand → obs.
• COUNTERTELL
vb. 1619 – to tell in a contrary way → obs.
• COUNTERTHINK
vb. 1480 – to think again or contrariwise → obs.
• COUNTERVENGE
vb. 1523 – to revenge, to take retaliatory vengeance for → obs.
• COUNTERWRITE
vb. 1611 – to write against → obs.
• COUNTESS OF PUDDLE-DOCK
n. 17C – an imaginary aristocrat → sl.
• COUNTING DAISY ROOTS
adj. 1942 – dead and buried → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• COUNTING WORMS
adj. 1942 – dead and buried → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• COUNT ONE’S BEADS
vb. 1792 – to say one’s prayers
• COUNT ONE’S EGGS
vb. 1942 – to be wrong, to be mistaken → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• COUNT ONE’S POTATOES
vb. 1928 – to say grace at table → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY
n. 1878 – in cricket: the part of the field distant from the batter → colloq.
• COUNTRY AIR
n. 1633 – a rural melody or song
• COUNTRY BLOCK
n. 1928 – an indefinite distance, relatively long → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY BOOB
n. 1965 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY BOOBOO
n. 1996 – a naive, gullible person → British Virgin Islands
• COUNTRY BOOKIE
n. 1904 – a naive rustic → Trinidad and Tobago
• COUNTRY BUCK
n. 1959 – a rustic or countrified person; a hillbilly → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY CADILLAC
n. 1976 – a pickup truck → US sl.
• COUNTRY CLOD
n. 1942 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY CLUB
n. 1. 1960 – a minimum security, comfortable prison generally reserved for corporate and banking criminals → US sl.
n. 2. 1973 – anything that appears to be relatively comfortable and undemanding → US sl.
• COUNTRY COUSIN
n. 1. 1692 – any person with an unsophisticated and provincial appearance or manner
n. 2. 1908 – the bleed period of the menstrual period → US sl.
n. 3. 1909 – a dozen → UK rhyming sl.
n. 4. 1950 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY CRACKER
n. 1865 – a backwoodsman, a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY FELLOW
n. 1578 – one’s fellow countryman or countrywoman → obs.
• COUNTRY FEVER
n. 1822 – malaria → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY-FRIED
adj. 1993 – rural or unsophisticated → US
• COUNTRY GAWK
n. 1931 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY GOOK
n. 1973 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY HAYSEED
n. 1973 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY HICK
n. 1950 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY HOOSIER
n. 1965 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY HUNK
n. 1965 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY HUSBAND
n. 1644 – a farmer, a rural husbandman → obs.
• COUNTRY IKE
n. 1960 – an uncouth, ignorant or rude fellow; a rustic → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY JACK
n. 1930 – a rustic, a countrified person; a simple fellow → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY JAKE
n. 1845 – an oaf; a bumpkin → US sl.
• COUNTRY JAY
n. 1888 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY JAYHAWK
n. 1968 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY JERK
n. 1950 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY JIG
n. 1973 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY JIGGER
n. 1973 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY JOAN
n. 1606 – a rustic or countrified woman; an unsophisticated countrywoman
• COUNTRY LIGHT
n. 1950 – the high beam of an automobile headlight → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY MILE
n. 1829 – a long distance or margin → US sl.
• COUNTRY MOUSE
n. 1. 1585 – a country dweller, esp. one who is unfamiliar with urban life
n. 2. 2003 – in Antarctica: a scientist or a scientist’s assistant whose work takes them into the field, away from McMurdo Station → sl.
• COUNTRY-PLAIN
adj. 1609 – having the simple manner of a person from the country; unsophisticated, unpretentious, straightforward
• COUNTRY PUT
n. 1688 – a loutish, unsophisticated, or foolish person from the country; an inexperienced person → sl. obs.
• COUNTRY PUMPKIN
n. 1958 – a rustic or countrified person; a hillbilly → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY PUNK
n. 1973 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY ROUGH
n. 1965 – a rude or disrespectful person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY RUBE
n. 1965 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY SAGER
n. 1949 – a rustic; a country bumpkin; a poor White person → Amer. dial.
• COUNTRY SEND
n. 1997 – in a big con: sending the victim away to retrieve money → US sl.
• COUNTRY STORE
n. 1968 – a military self-service supply centre → US sl., Vietnam war usage
• COUNTRY STRAIGHT
n. 1978 – in poker: a hand consisting of four sequenced cards which can be converted into a five-card sequence with the correct draw at either end of the sequence → US sl.
• COUNTRY TOM
n. 1658 – an outlaw or highway robber → obs.
• COUNTRY WOOL
n. 1956 – homespun wool → Can.
• COUNT STORE
n. 1985 – a rigged carnival game → US sl.
• COUNT THE HOOKS!
phr. 1995 – used for demanding that a subordinate recognizes the uniform and rank of the superior rebuking him or her → Can. military usage
• COUNT THE HOOPS!
phr. 1995 – used for demanding that a subordinate recognizes the uniform and rank of the superior rebuking him or her → Can. military usage
• COUNT TIES
vb. 1893 – to walk on a railroad track → Amer. dial.
• COUNTY
adj. 1921 – snobbish, pretentious → Brit. sl.
n. 1953 – any county jail, where the accused are held before trial and prisoners convicted of misdemeanours are incarcerated for short sentences → US sl.
• COUNTY ATTORNEY
n. 1933 – a stew made of whatever is available → Amer. dial.
• COUNTY BEEF
n. 1967 – deer shot illegally → Amer. dial.
• COUNTY BLUES
n. 1993 – a blue uniform issued to prisoners in a county jail → US sl.
• COUNTY BOARDING HOUSE
n. 1965 – a jail → US sl.
• COUNTY HOTEL
n. 1965 – a county jail → Amer. dial.
• COUNTY MOUNTIE
n. 1. 1975 – a local police officer → US sl.
n. 2. 1981 – a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment (1970-1992) → UK sl.
• COUNTYOCRACY
n. 1859 – the aristocracy and leading families of a county → obs.
• COUNT YOUR FINGERS!
phr. 1984 – used with heavy humour to suggest distrust of a person who is shaking, or has just shaken, someone’s hand → UK sl.
• COUNTY SHOES
n. 1973 – inexpensive shoes issued to prisoners by a county jail → US sl.
• COUNTY TIME
n. 1996 – time served in a local county jail, as opposed to a state or federal prison → US sl.
• COUP
n. 1. 1523 – a blow, a stroke; the shock of a blow or combat → obs. exc. Sc.
n. 2. 1535 – a fall, upset, or overturn → Sc.
n. 3. 1886 – a place where rubbish is deposited; a rubbish dump or tip
n. 4. 1895 – in horse racing: a secret betting plunge in which a great deal of money is bet at favourable odds → Aust. sl.
n. 5. 2001 – a crime → UK sl.
vb. 1. 1300 – to buy → obs.
vb. 2. 1400 – to strike, to come to blows → obs.
vb. 3. 1572 – to overturn, to tilt, to upset, as from a wheelbarrow by suddenly tilting or the like; to toss off a pot of liquor → Sc.
vb. 4. 1610 – to exchange, to barter → Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 5. 1787 – to fall or tumble over; to capsize → Sc.
• COUPAGE
n. 1483 – the cutting up or carving of meat at table → obs.
• COUP DE SOLEIL
n. 1772 – a sunstroke → obs.
• COUP D’ESSAI
n. 1676 – a first attempt
• COUP DE VENT
n. 1831 – a whirlwind; a gale
• COUP D’OEIL
n. 1739 – a glance taking in a general view
• COUPE-GORGE
n. 1400 – a cut-throat; a murderer or other violent criminal → obs.
• COUPLE
n. 1935 – several drinks, esp. beers, not necessarily two → UK sl.
vb. 1540 – to marry, to espouse → obs.
• COUPLE-BEGGAR
n. 1702 – a disreputable priest who made it his business to ‘couple’ beggars or perform irregular marriages → obs,
• COUPLE OF BOB
n. 1. 1980 – a non-specific amount of money (pre-1971, a ‘bob’ was a shilling) → UK sl.
n. 2. 1992 – a job → UK rhyming sl.
n. 3. 1992 – a lump of phlegm → UK rhyming sl. for ‘gob’
• COUPLE OF HUMPS
n. 1942 – a short time; a moment → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• COUPLE OF JERKS
n. 1942 – a short time; a moment → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• COUPLE OF KICKS
n. 1942 – a short time; a moment → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• COUPLE OF SHAKES
n. 1942 – a short time; a moment → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• COUPLE OF WINKS
n. 1942 – a short time; a moment → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• COUPLE-THREE
n. 1935 – two or three; a few, several → Amer. dial.
• COUPLE WITH
vb. 1903 – to possess carnally → sl.
• COUPLING-HOUSE
n. 1902 – a brothel → sl. (Bk.)
• COUPON
n. 1. 1962 – a person’s face or facial expression → Sc. colloq.
n. 2. 1976 – in trucking: a speeding ticket → US sl.
n. 3. 1980 – the face → UK sl.
n. 4. 1996 – an IOU, which has not and will not be paid off → US sl.
• COUP THE CRANS
vb. 1796 – to have an upset; to come to grief
• COUP THE CREELS
vb. 1718 – to tumble head over heels; to die; to meet with a mishap → Sc.
• COUP THE LADLE
vb. 1. 1854 – to turn head over heels → Ireland
vb. 2. 1914 – to play at seesaw → Sc.
• COURAGE
int. 1600 – take courage! cheer up!
n. 1541 – sexual vigour or desire, lust → obs. exc. Amer. dial.
vb. 1470 – to encourage → obs.
• COURAGE BUMP
n. 1966 – a pimple → Amer. dial.
• COURAGEABLE
adj. 1689 – abounding in courage, courageous → obs.
• COURAGIE
n. 1556 – courage → obs.
• COURANT
n. 1621 – a paper containing news; a published newspaper or newsletter
vb. 1800 – to run or race about → Eng. dial.
• COURANTEER
n. 1733 – a newspaper writer, a journalist → obs.
• COURBE
adj. 1395 – bent, bowed, crooked → obs.
n. 1393 – a crook, a hump → obs.
vb. 1377 – to curve, to bend, to bow → obs.
• COURBED
adj. 1430 – bowed, bent, crooked → obs.
• COURIER BOATS
n. 1966 – long trailing clouds high in the sky → Amer. dial.
• COUROUCE
n. 1450 – irritation, anger → obs.
• COUROUX
n. 1450 – irritation, anger → obs.
• COURSE OF SPROUTS
n. 1839 – a beating or flogging; a period of harsh or severe discipline or training
• COURSER
n. 1. 1330 – a large powerful horse that is ridden in battle or as part of a jousting tournament
n. 2. 1382 – a stallion → obs. exc. Sc.
n. 3. 1400 – a person who competes in a foot race, a runner → obs.
n. 4. 1577 – a horse that runs swiftly, a racer
n. 5. 1590 – a person who hunts, chases, or pursues others → obs.
n. 6. 1600 – a dog used to hunt game, esp. hare, for sport., esp., a greyhound or an other sight hound)
n. 7. 1639 – at Oxford University: a debater or disputant → obs.
n. 8. 1885 – a stone, brick, etc., used in a layer of masonry
• COURSEY
n. 1766 – a raised footpath; the pavement, sidewalk → Sc. & Eng. dial.
• COURT CARD
n. 1. 1606 – a playing card that is a king, queen, or jack of a suit → chiefly Brit.
n. 2. 1661 – a trait or characteristic that gives a person an advantage or is beneficial
n. 3. 1699 – a dandy, a gay fluttering fellow → cant obs.
n. 4. 1877 – a person of high social position or importance → obs.
• COURTEOUS
n. 1393 – a benevolent or good person; a courteous or courtly person → obs.
• COURTESY
n. 1. 1528 – a moderate quantity of something → obs.
n. 2. 1966 – a party at which gifts are given; a shower → Amer. dial.
• COURTESY MORSEL
n. 1614 – a small part of a dish or piece of food left uneaten out of politeness → obs.
• COURTHOUSE
n. 1969 – an outside toilet → Amer. dial.
• COURTICIAN
n. 1492 – a courtier, a person who attends a royal court as a companion or adviser to the king or queen → Sc. obs.
• COURTING APPLE
n. 1976 – an onion → Amer. dial., jocular usage
• COURTING MAN
n. 1966 – a womanizer, a rake → Amer. dial.
• COURTING SEAT
n. 1983 – a loveseat → Amer. dial.
• COURTNOLL
n. 1568 – a term of contempt or abuse; a courtier → obs.
• COURTRESS
n. 1. 1577 – a woman who is courted by a suitor → obs.
n. 2. 1592 – a female courtier → obs.
• COURTSHIP
n. 1. 1592 – the skill of a courtier; diplomacy, flattery → obs.
n. 2. 1594 – considerate, respectful, or polite behaviour; courtesy → obs.
• COURTSHIPMENT
n. 1649 – flattery → obs.
• COUSE
n. 1. 1880 – a chat, a gossip → Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1921 – a woman, usually promiscuous or sexually attractive; hence, a prostitute → sl., chiefly US
• COUSEN IN
vb. 1935 – to ingratiate oneself into favour → Amer. dial. obs.
• COUSIN
n. 1. 1555 – the victim of a swindler; a dupe → cant obs.
n. 2. 1604 – an illicit female sexual partner; a prostitute → cant obs.
n. 3. 1694 – a seducer, a womanizer → obs.
n. 4. 1938 – a dupe → Amer. dial.
n. 5. 1945 – a close friend → World War II Amer. sl.
n. 6. 1970 – a mosquito → Amer. dial.
• COUSIN ANNE
n. 1968 – a Welsh woman → Amer. dial.
• COUSIN BETTY
n. 1. 1744 – a female beggar claiming or feigning insanity in order to obtain money; later, a woman who has a mental illness or intellectual disability → sl. obs.
n. 2. 1760 – an itinerant prostitute → sl. obs.
• COUSIN CHARLIE
n. 1990 – cocaine → drug culture sl.
• COUSIN ELLA
n. 20C – an umbrella → rhyming sl.
• COUSINESS
n. 1375 – a female cousin; in earliest usage, a female relative, a kinswoman → chiefly colloq.
• COUSINET
n. 1815 – a young or diminutive cousin → obs.
• COUSIN-GERMAN
n. 1. 1380 – a first cousin → arch.
n. 2. 1547 – a near relative, a close connection
• COUSIN JACK
n. 1857 – a Cornishman
• COUSIN JACKY
n. 1854 – a Cornishman → colloq. obs.
• COUSIN JAN
n. 1853 – a Cornishman → colloq. obs.
• COUSIN JENNY
n. 1868 – a Cornishwoman → colloq.
• COUSIN KISS-THEM-ALL
n. 1893 – a person who persuades or cajoles others by means of attentiveness or flattery; a sweet-talker, a wheedler → Eng. dial. obs.
• COUSIN ON
vb. 1917 – to live with one as a relative → Amer. dial.
• COUSINS
n. 1968 – a man and woman who are not married but live together as if they were → Amer. dial. euphemism
• THE COUSINS
n. 1977 – the Central Intelligence Agency → Brit. sl.
• COUSIN SALLY
n. 1861 – the Confederate States of America → US colloq., nickname
• COUSIN TOM
n. 1740 – a male beggar claiming or feigning insanity to obtain money; a man who has a mental illness or intellectual disability → sl. obs.
• COUSIN UP
vb. 1967 – to try to gain somebody’s favour → Amer. dial.
• COUTER
n. 1846 – £1 → sl.
• COUTH
adj. 1. 1000 – known → obs.
adj. 2. 1000 – noted, renowned, famed → obs.
adj. 3. 1225 – acquainted, familiar with → obs.
adj. 4. 1375 – kind, affable, agreeable, pleasant → Sc.
adj. 5. 1749 – comfortable, snug, cosy → Sc.
adj. 6. 1896 – cultured, well-mannered
• COUTHIE • COUTHY
adj. 1. 1719 – kindly, pleasant, agreeable, genial → Sc.
• COUTHLY
adj. 1275 – familiar, friendly → obs.
• COVE
n. 1. 1567 – a male person, a fellow → sl.
n. 2. 1725 – a cell in a pigeon-cote → obs.
n. 3. 1836 – a shallow lake or swamp → Amer. dial.
n. 4. 1892 – a master or overseer of an Australian station → Aust. sl. (Bk.)
n. 5. 1898 – a foolish man; an easy dupe → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 6. 1913 – a peculiar, eccentric person → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
n. 7. 1969 – a grove or copse → Amer. dial.
• COVE-CULL
n. 1952 – a mountaineer → Amer. dial.
• COVEE
n. 1815 – a man; often applied to the landlord of a public-house → sl.
• COVEITE
n. 1869 – a person who lives in a remote part of the mountains → Amer. dial.
• COVE JUICE
n. 1952 – illegally distilled whisky, moonshine → Amer. dial.
• COVEN
n. 1. 1658 – a group of witches which meets regularly → orig. Sc.
n. 2. 1948 – a group or association, esp. one viewed as secretive, exclusive or sinister → depreciative usage
• COVENABLENESS
n. 1382 – fitness; suitableness → obs.
• COVENABLETE
n. 1384 – fitness, suitableness; a fit occasion, an opportunity → obs.
• COVENANCE
vb. 1450 – to pledge or promise a woman in marriage → obs.
• COVENANT
adj. 1440 – having pleasing manners or demeanour; accomplished, excellent → obs.
• COVENT-GARDEN
n. 1903 – a farthing (1/4d) → sl. (Bk.)
• COVENT GARDEN NUNNERY
n. 1902 – a brothel → sl. (Bk.)
• COVENTRATE
vb. 1940 – to bomb intensively; to devastate sections of a city by concentrated bombing (as that inflicted on Coventry, Warwickshire in November, 1940)
• COVENTRY
vb. 1704 – to slit the nose of → obs.
• COVE OF THE BUDGING-KEN
n. M19 – a landlord → sl.
• COVER
n. 1. 1612 – the utensils with which a table is covered or laid; the plate, napkin, knife, fork, spoon, etc. laid for each person at table
n. 2. 1819 – a confederate who screens the operations of a thief or pickpocket → thieves’ sl.
n. 3. 1939 – a roof → Amer. dial.
vb. 1. 1535 – of a stallion: to copulate with the mare
vb. 2. 1903 – to possess carnally → sl. (Bk.)
• COVERANCE
n. 1400 – recovery, restoration → obs.
• COVERCLE
n. 1384 – a cover of a vessel, a lid → obs.
• COVERED CARS
n. 1960 – a passenger train → Amer. dial.
• COVERED UP
adj. 1980 – booked up; busy → Amer. dial.
• COVERED WAGON
n. 1. 1928 – an aeroplane in which the pilot and passengers are covered in → chiefly US
n. 2. 1945 – an aircraft carrier → World War II Amer. sl.
n. 3. 1966 – an outside toilet → Amer. dial.
• COVER GROUND
vb. 1942 – to go fast → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• COVER HIS FEET
vb. 1535 – to relief oneself → Hebraism, obs.
• COVERLID
n. 1400 – the upper covering of a bed; a quilt
• COVER-ME-DECENTLY
n. 1891 – a coat → sl. (Bk.)
• COVER OF THE EYES
n. 1300 – the visor of a helmet → obs.
• COVER ONESELF WITH A WET SACK
vb. 1651 – to make vain excuses → obs.
• COVER-SHAME
n. 1629 – something used to conceal shame; a garment used to cover nakedness
► COVER-SLUT n. 1. something worn to cover dirt, untidiness, or sluttishness; a garment to hide slovenliness; hence, an apron → 1639
n. 2. one who takes the blame due to another → 1895 Eng. dial.
• COVER THE WATERFRONT
vb. 1. 1948 – to menstruate → Amer. dial. euphemism
vb. 2. 1984 – to diaper a baby → Amer. dial.
• COVER UP
vb. 1966 – to become cloudy → Amer. dial.
• COVESS
n. 1789 – a woman → sl.
• COVESS DINGE
n. 1848 – a Black woman → Amer. thieves’ sl., derogatory
• COVETISE
n. 1. 1297 – excessive desire for the acquisition and possession of wealth, etc., esp. of possessing what belongs to another
n. 2. 1340 – ardent or excessive desire; lust → obs.
• COVETIVENESS
n. 1815 – acquisitiveness → obs.
• COVE WITH A JAZEY
n. 1896 – a judge → sl. (Bk.)
• COVEY
n. 1. 1440 – a brood of partridges
n. 2. 1592 – a family or party of persons or things
n. 3. 1593 – a pantry → obs.
n. 4. 1821 – a little ‘cove’; an intimate or associate → sl.
n. 5. 1851 – a chap, a bloke → Amer. dial.
• COVIN
n. 1. 1330 – a number of persons confederate together; a company band → obs.
n. 2. 1375 – secret contrivance or device; secret intent → obs.
n. 3. 1487 – fraudulent action of any kind to the injury of another; fraud, deceit, treachery → arch.
n. 4. 1489 – a private agreement, compact, covenant → obs.
vb. 1393 – to agree upon → obs.
• COVINLICHE
adv. 1330 – in agreement, with one accord → obs.
• COVINOUS
adj. 1570 – fraudulent, deceitful, collusive, dishonest → obs.
• COVITE
n. 1869 – a person who lives in a remote part of the mountains → Amer. dial.
• COW
n. 1. 1500 – a hobgoblin; a scarecrow, a bugbear → Sc.
n. 2. 1584 – a timid, faint-hearted person; a coward → obs.
n. 3. 1696 – an unpleasant or despicable female → derogatory & offensive
n. 4. 1864 – something unpleasant or undesirable → Aust. & NZ sl.
n. 5. 1903 – £1,000 → sl. (Bk.)
n. 6. 1913 – a dull young man; an awkward girl → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
n. 7. 1942 – milk or cream → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
n. 8. 1968 – a woman’s breast → Amer. dial.
n. 9. 1970 – the buttocks → Amer. dial. euphemism
vb. 1. 1507 – to clip, to cut short, to prune → Sc.
vb. 2. 1616 – to dispirit, to overawe, to intimidate
vb. 3. 1842 – to surpass, to excel → Sc.
• COWABUNGA!
int. 1954 – an exclamation of exhilaration, delight, or satisfaction, esp. in surfing as the surfer climbs or rides a wave → sl., orig. & chiefly US
• COW ANT
n. 1970 – an aphid → Amer. dial.
• COWARD
n. 1. 1486 – the hare → obs.
n. 2. 1684 – a cock which will not fight → obs.
n. 3. 1880 – a horse without spirit in a race
• COWARDISE
adj. 1582 – cowardly → obs.
• COWARDISH
adj. 1530 – cowardly → obs.
• COWARDIZE
vb. 1648 – to make a coward of; to daunt
• COWARDLY CUSTARD
n. 1637 – a fearful or cowardly person
• COWARDOUS
adj. 1480 – cowardly; timid; faint-hearted → obs.
• COWARDRY
n. 1547 – cowardice → obs.
• COWARDY
n. 1405 – cowardice → obs.
• COWARDY CALF
n. 1897 – a timid, cowardly, or easily frightened person → Amer. dial.
• COWARDY-CAT
n. 1965 – a very timid or cowardly person → Amer. dial.
• COW-BABY
n. 1594 – a coward, a timorous person → obs. exc. Eng. dial.
• COW-BANGER
n. 1892 – a dairy farmer; a person who works on a dairy farm → Aust. & NZ sl.
• COW BARN IS OPEN
phr. 1966 – a warning to a man that his trouser-fly is open → Amer. dial.
• COWBELL PHOSPHATE
n. 1969 – whisky, esp. illegally made whisky → Amer. dial.
• COWBELLY
n. 1968 – soft river mud → Amer. dial.
• COW-BLAKES
n. 1681 – dried cow dung used for fuel → Eng. dial.
• COWBOY
n. 1. 1884 – a young man who frequents or hangs around in a certain place for the purpose of meeting his friends, impressing girls, etc. → sl., orig. & chiefly US
n. 2. 1885 – a wild, rash, or reckless man; one who has little regard for rules or laws, or is impulsively violent or aggressive; a hot-headed, ruthless, or unrestrained criminal, esp. a gunman → sl., orig. US
n. 3. 1928 – a reckless driver; an inexperienced driver → Amer. dial.
n. 4. 1951 – a king in a pack of playing cards, esp. in the game of poker → sl.
n. 5. 1959 – a policeman → sl.
n. 6. 1972 – an unscrupulous or unregulated trader who provides poor quality or overpriced goods or services. an unqualified builder, plumber, etc., who does shoddy work but charges less than those who are more established or professional → colloq., orig. & chiefly Brit.
vb. 1. 1933 – to drive a car in a reckless manner → sl.
vb. 2. 1941 – to commit an especially daring crime → US sl.
• COWBOY BIBLE
n. 1980 – a little book of cigarette papers → Amer. dial.
• COWBOY COCKTAIL
n. 1968 – straight whisky → Amer. dial.
• COWBOY COFFEE
n. 1915 – boiled or very strong coffee → Amer. dial.
• COWBOY DRIVER
n. 1942 – a reckless driver; an inexperienced driver → Amer. dial.
• COWBOY-DUDDED
adj. 1957 – dressed like a cowboy
• COWBOY (FOUNTAIN) PEN
n. 1961 – a plant stalk used for doodling in the soil → Amer. dial.
• COWBOY LEG
n. 1967 – a bowleg → Amer. dial.
• COWBOY PREACHER
n. 1967 – an unprofessional, part-time lay preacher → Amer. dial.
• COWBOYS
n. 1970 – Marlboro cigarettes → US students’ sl. (Bk.)
• COWBOY-STEW
n. 1967 – a stew made of whatever is available → Amer. dial.
• COWBOY UP
vb. 1973 – to make a determined effort to overcome an obstacle; to demonstrate courage or toughness when faced with a difficult situation → colloq.
• COWBRUTE
n. 1923 – a bull → Amer. dial.
• COW BUG
n. 1968 – an aphid → Amer. dial.
• COW-CAKE
n. 19C – cow dung → Eng. & Amer. dial.
• COW-CHILO
n. 1892 – a girl → Chinese Pidgin
• COW-CLAP
n. 19C – cow dung → Eng. dial.
• COW-CLOD
n. 20C – cow dung → US colloq.
• COW-CLOOM
n. 1669 – a mixture of cow dung and clay → obs.
• COW-COCKY
n. 1914 – a dairy farmer → Aust. & NZ sl.
• COW-COD
n. 20C – a whip or a club made from a dried bull’s penis → Jamaican usage
• COW COLLEGE
n. 1913 – Agricultural School (of the University of Minnesota) → Amer. dial.
• COW-CONFETTI
n. E20 – nonsense → Aust. euphemism for ‘bullshit’
• COW COUNTY
n. 1850 – a rural place, ‘the sticks’ → Amer. dial.
• COW-COW
vb. 1892 – to be very angry; to scold → Chinese Pidgin
• COW CRITTER
n. 1859 – a bull → Amer. dial. euphemism
• COW CROWD
n. 1929 – an outfit or group of cowboys → Amer. dial.
• COW CUD
n. 1966 – a wad or roll of paper money → Amer. dial.
• COWCUMBER
n. 1685 – a cucumber → Amer. dial.
• COW-CUNTED
adj. 19C – pert. to a woman whose genitals have been deformed by giving birth or by ‘debauchery’ → Brit. sl.
• COW CUP
n. 1960 – the flush of the Milky Way → Amer. dial.
• COW-DAB
n. 1785 – cow dung
• COW DOCTOR
n. 1967 – an incapable doctor or one with a bad reputation → Amer. dial.
• COWDOG
n. 1921 – a cowboy → Amer. dial.
• COW EXPRESS
n. 1970 – shoe leather → African-American
• COW EYE • COW’S EYE
n. 1965 – a very round, sometimes protruding, eye → Amer. dial.
• COW-EYED
adj. 1965 – having very round eyes → Amer. dial.
• COW-FEEDER
n. 1805 – a dairy farmer
• COW-FISH
n. 1. 1634 – the manatee
n. 2. 1860 – a dolphin, a porpoise
• COW-FLOP
n. 19C – cow dung → Eng. dial.
• COW FOOT
n. 1965 – a large or clumsy foot → Amer. dial.
• COW-FOOTED
adj. 1965 – clumsy → Amer. dial.
• COWGIRLS
n. 1970 – Marlboro cigarettes → US students’ sl. (Bk.)
• COW-GREASE
n. 1892 – butter → Chinese Pidgin
• COW-HANDED
adj. 1. 1834 – awkward, clumsy → Amer. dial. obs.
adj. 2. 1931 – in baseball, of a batter: having the hands in reversed position; cross-handed → Amer. dial.
• COW-HEART
n. 1768 – a coward
• COW-HEARTED
adj. 1660 – faint-hearted, timorous, cowardly
• COW-HICK
n. 1969 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COWHIDE
vb. 1794 – to beat with a cowhide whip; to flog → Amer. dial.
• COW-HOCKED
adj. 19C – having large or awkward feet; clumsy about the ankles → sl.
• COW IN A TIN BARN
n. 1945 – canned milk; canned corned beef; canned beef → World War II Amer. sl.
• COWISH
adj. 1579 – cowardly → obs.
• COW JOCKEY
n. 1. 1935 – a dealer in cows → Amer. dial.
n. 2. 1968 – a rustic or countrified person → Amer. dial.
• COW JUICE
n. 1796 – milk → sl.
• COW KICKER
n. 1986 – a cowboy → Amer. dial.
• COW KINE
n. 1970 – cattle → Amer. dial.
• COW KISS
n. 1970 – a sloppy French kiss → US students’ sl. (Bk.)
• COW-KISSING
n. M20 – kissing with much movement of the tongues and lips → US sl.
• COWL
vb. 1556 – to quarrel → obs.
• COW-LADY
n. 1656 – a ladybird
• COWLICK
n. 1976 – a bald spot → African-American
• COWLICKS
n. 1970 – illegible handwriting → Amer. dial.
• COWLISH
adj. 1536 – characteristic of a monk → obs.
• COWLIST
n. 1637 – one who wears a cowl; a monk → obs.
• COW LOAD
n. 1937 – a piece of dried cow manure → Amer. dial.
• THE COW LOT GATE IS OPEN
phr. 1954 – a warning that a trouser fly is open → Amer. dial.
• COW-OIL
n. 1892 – butter → Chinese Pidgin (Bk.)
• COW PANCAKE
n. 1971 – cow dung, cow manure → Amer. dial.
• COW PASTE
n. 1936 – butter → Amer. dial.
• COW-PAT
n. 1856 – cow dung → Eng. dial.
• COW PATCH
n. 1965 – a remote place, or a very small or unimportant place → Amer. dial.
• COW-PIE
n. 1947 – cow dung → US colloq.
• COW PILOT
n. 1942 – a stewardess, a flight attendant → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• COW-PLAT
n. L16 – cow dung; a mass of cow dung → Eng, dial.
• COWPOKE
n. 1928 – a cowboy → colloq., chiefly US
• COW-POX
vb. 1829 – to vaccinate → obs.
• COW PROD
n. 1961 – a cowboy → Amer. dial.
• COW PRODDER
n. 1930 – a cowboy → Amer. dial.
• COW-PUCKY
n. 20C – cow dung → colloq.
• COWPUNCH
vb. 1881 – to herd cattle → Amer. dial.
• COW-PUNCHER
n. 1. 1878 – a cowboy → Amer. sl.
n. 2. 1975 – a veterinarian → Amer. dial.
• COW-PUSHER
n. 1950 – a train that stops at every station → Amer. dial.
• COW SALVE
n. 1965 – butter → Amer. dial.
• COWS AND HORSES WILL GET OUT
phr. 20C – said to warn a male that his fly is undone → US sl.
• COW’S BROTHER
n. 1966 – a bull → Amer. dial.
• COW SENSE
n. 1942 – common sense → Amer. dial.
• COW’S GENTLEMAN FRIEND
n. 1966 – a bull → Amer. dial.
• COWSH
n. 20C – ‘cowshit’; nonsense → Aust. sl.
• COW-SHARD
n. 1579 – cow dung; a mass of cow dung → Eng. dial.
• COW-SHARN
n. 1622 – cow dung; a mass of cow dung → Eng. dial.
• COW-SHERN
n. L16 – cow dung; a mass of cow dung → Eng. dial.
• COW’S HUSBAND
n. 1942 – a bull → Amer. dial.
• COWSLIP
n. 20C – cow dung, esp. fresh cow dung → US colloq.
• COWSON
n. 1936 – a term of contempt, a son of a bitch; an unpleasant or disagreeable person → Brit. sl.
• COW-SPANKER
n. 1906 – a dairy farmer or stockman → Aust. & NZ sl.
• COW’S SPOUSE
n. L18 – a bull → Brit. euphemism
• COW’S TAIL
n. 1. 1908 – the last one to arrive; a tagalong → Amer. dial.
n. 2. 1970 – a frayed rope → Amer. dial.
n. 3. 1970 – unkempt hair → Amer. dial.
• COW’S TAILS
n. 1968 – long trailing clouds high in the sky → Amer. dial.
• COW’S TONGUE
n. 1898 – a person who is mild or harsh-spoken according to circumstance; a two-faced person; a hypocrite; a gruff old codger who is soft-hearted → Eng. & Amer. dial. (Bk.)
• COW-STORM
n. 1914 – a drizzling rain unaccompanied by wind → Amer. dial.
• COWSUCKER
n. 1969 – an old, clumsy boat → Amer. dial.
• COW TAIL
n. 1908 – the last one to arrive; a tagalong → Amer. dial.
vb. 1970 – (as ‘cowtail’) to drive a baseball away out yonder → Amer. dial.
• COW TOPPER
n. 1939 – a bull → Amer. dial. euphemism
• COW TRAIN
n. 1951 – a train that stops at every station along the way → Amer. dial.
• COW VINE
n. 1970 – the wild morning glory → Amer. dial.
• COW-WADDIE • COW-WADDY
n. 1923 – a cowboy; a ranch hand → Amer. West usage
• COW WALKERS
n. 1968 – stilts → Amer. dial.
• COW-WEEK
n. M19 – the 3 weeks immediately before Christmas, characterized in shops and factories by an increasingly heavy workload → sl.
• COW WOOD
n. 1850 – dried cow dung used as fuel → Amer. dial.
• COWYARD CONFETTI
n. 1930 – ‘bullshit’; empty talk, nonsense → Aust. sl.
• COW-YARD TAR
n. 1905 – a person who is both a farmer and sailor according to the season → Amer. dial.
• COXBONES!
int. 1668 – an exclamation and oath; “By God’s bones!”
• COXCOMB
n. 1. 1542 – a fool; a stupid person → obs.
n. 2. 1567 – a vain, conceited, or pretentious man; a man of ostentatiously affected mannerisms or appearance; a fop
n. 3. 1567 – A person’s head or (occasionally) hair
n. 4. 1640 – a foolish, vain, or pretentiously affected woman → obs.
• COXCOMBALITY
n. 1785 – pretentious affectation, foppishness → obs.
• COXCOMB-BIRD
n. 1734 – a parrot → obs.
• COXCOMBERY
n. 1774 – conceitedness, vanity, pretentious affectation; foppery
• COXCOMBESS
n. 1827 – a vain or pretentiously affected woman; a female coxcomb → obs.
• COXCOMBIC
adj. 1730 – vain, conceited; pretentious, affected; foppish → obs.
• COXCOMBICAL
adj. 1. 1649 – orig., foolish; later, vain, pretentiously affected, foppish
adj. 2. 1723 – of action, speech, writing, etc.: characterized by vanity, pretentious affectation, or foppishness.
• COXCOMBITY
n. 1697 – pretentious affectation → obs.
• COXCOMBLY
adj. 1610 – orig., foolish; later, vain, pretentiously affected, foppish → obs.
• COXCOMBRY
n. 1. 1600 – a foolish person → obs.
n. 2. 1608 – foolishness, folly. also, a foolish trait or characteristic → obs.
n. 3. 1745 – conceitedness, vanity, pretentious affectation; foppery
n. 4. 1777 – a foppish trait or characteristic
n. 5. 1818 – coxcombs collectively; vain, pretentious, affected people as a class → obs.
• COXCOMBY
adj. 1697 – of the nature of a coxcomb; vain, pretentiously affected, foppish → obs.
• COXINESS
n. 1859 – self-importance, arrogance; brashness, impudence
• COXSWAIN OF THE PLOW
n. 1913 – a sailor recently enlisted → Amer. navy sl. (Bk.)
• COXY
adj. 1728 – self-important, arrogant; brash, cheeky, impudent
• COXY-ROXY
adj. 1887 – merrily and fantastically tipsy or drunk → Eng. dial.
• COY
n. 1. 1625 – a place constructed for entrapping ducks or other wildfowl → obs.
n. 2. 1733 – a lobster trap → Eng. dial.
• COY-DUCK
n. 1654 – a person who entices others; one who leads the way
• COYOTE
n. 1. ..19C – the female genitals → Brit.
n. 2. 1872 – a squatter → Amer. dial.
n. 3. 1872 – an American Indian, or a person with one Indian parent → Amer. dial.
n. 4. 1923 – a person who imports or exploits illegal immigrants, esp. from Mexico → US sl.
vb. 1. 1857 – to dig one’s way out; to get away or move surreptitiously → Amer. dial.
vb. 2. 1948 – to wander about, to drift → Amer. dial.
• COYOTE AROUND THE RIM
vb. 1968 – to touch a subject on the edges, as in a conversation or speech, to hint → Amer. dial.
• COYOTE-UGLY
adj. 20C – extremely ugly → teen & high school sl.
• COYOTE WELL
n. 1933 – a usually hidden desert spring, a water hole → Amer. dial.
• COYOTEY
adj. 1937 – mangy-looking → Amer. dial.
• COYSE
n. 1692 – jolliness, joy → obs.
• COZ
n. 1. 1563 – a cousin → colloq.
n. 2. 1961 – a friend or acquaintance → orig. & chiefly US
• COZE
n. 1804 – an intimate, friendly chat → colloq., arch.
vb. 1. 1808 – to sit or recline comfortably and snugly → obs.
vb. 2. 1818 – to participate in an intimate or friendly chat → arch.
• COZEN
vb. 1. 1573 – to cheat, to defraud by deceit
vb. 2. 1583 – to deceive, to dupe, to impose upon
• COZENAGE
n. 1583 – cheating, deception, fraud; a being cheated
• COZENER
n. 1575 – a deceiver, a cheat, an impostor
• COZEY
n. 1. 1766 – a raised footpath; the pavement, sidewalk → Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1837 – a quiet chat → obs.
• COZ-GERMAN
n. 1635 – a child of a full brother or sister of either of one’s parents → obs.
• COZIER
n. 1532 – a cobbler → obs.
• COZLING
n. 1840 – a little ‘coz’ or cousin
• COZY
adj. 20C – dull or lacking in interest → teen & high school sl.
• COZZER
n. 1950 – a police officer → Brit. sl.
• COZZIE
n. 1926 – a swimsuit or pair of swimming trunks → Aust. sl.
• COZZPOT
n. 1962 – a police officer → Brit. sl.
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Lexicophilia 