An etymological dictionary of the Scottish language - Electric Scotland

coc [466] COC
It has been supposed that the term alludes to a cock
keeping possession of his own dunghill. V. LAIRD.
COCKLE, COKKIL, s. A scallop. Fr.
coquille, id.; from Lat. cochlea, a shell, Gr.
KOXXOS, or conchula, a dimin. from Lat. concha.
The Order of the Cockle, that of St. Michael, the
knights of which wore the scallop as their badge.
" The empriour makkis the ordnr of knychthed of
the fleise, the kyng of France niakkis the ordour of the
cokkil, the kyng of Ingland makkis the ordour of
knychthede of the gartan." Compl. S., p. 231.
"The Governour gat the Ducherie of Chattellarault,
with the ordour of the cokle. Huntelie, Argyill, and
Angus war lyikwys maid Knychtis of the cockle ; and
for that and uther gude deidis ressavit, thay sauld also
thair parte," Knox, p. 80. In one MS. it is cokill,
cockill; in another, cockle.
This order was instituted by Lewis XI. of France,
who began to reign A. 1461. The dress is thus described
from a MS. inventory of the robes at Windsor
Castle, in the reign of Henry VIII. :
"A mantell of cloth of silver, lyned withe white
Batten, with scallope shelles. Item, a hoode of crymsin
velvet, embraudeard with scallope shelles, lyned
with crymson satteii." Strutt's Horda Angel-cynnan,
Vol. III., 79. Gl. Compl.
The term occurs in O. E. Coccle fysshe, [Fr.] co-
quille ; Palsgr. B. iii. f. 25, a.
To COCKLE the cogs of a mill. To mark
the cogs before cutting off the ends of them,
so that the whole may preserve the circular
form. The instrument used is called the
cockle, Loth.
This must be the same with Germ, and mod. Sax.
kughel-en, rotundare, from Teut. koghel, Germ, kughel,
a globe, any thing round. Kilian mentions L. B. cogilum,
and Ital. cogul-a, as synon.
To COCKLE,
" To cluck as a hen,"
v.
Roxb.
n.
From the same origin with E. cackle ; Teut. kaeckel-
en, Su.-G. kakl-a, glocitare.
COCKLE-HEADED, adj. Whimsical, maggoty,
singular in conduct, S. Cock-brained
is used in the same sense in E.
' ' He has a gloaming sight o' what's reasonable but
he's crack-brained and cockle-headed about his nippertytipperty
poetry nonsense." Rob Roy, ii. 158.
Perhaps in allusion to the shells or cockles anciently
worn by pilgrims ; which, from the ostentatious and
absurd conduct of many who wore them, might give
occasion for the formation of this term as applicable to
any one of an eccentric cast of mind.
C.B. coegvalch, however, signifies conceited, proud.
COCKLE-CUTIT, adj. Having bad ancles,
so that the feet seem to be twisted away from
them, lying outwards, Lanarks.
Isl. koeckull, condylus ; q. having
a defect in the
joints.
COCKMAN, s. A sentinel, Martin's West.
Isl., p. 91. V. GOCKMIN.
COCK-MELDER,
s. The last melder or
grinding of a year's grain, Lanarks. ;
Dustymelder. synon.
As this melder contains more refuse (which is called
dust) than any other, it may be thus denominated,
because a larger share of it is allowed to the dunghillfowls.
COCK-PADDLE, s. The Lump, a fish of
the cartilaginous kind; CyclopterusLumpus.
Linn. ; The Paddle, Orkn.
"
Lumpus Anglorum, nostratibus Cock-Paddle ;"
Sibb. Scot., p. 24. V. also, Fife, p. 126.
As the name Hush given to the female is probably
the same with see-haease (V. Bagaty), this seems formed
from the other name mentioned by Schoneveld, Hafpodde,
i.e. sea-toad, although compounded partly from
Isl., and partly from Teut. podde, padde, bufo.
"The Lump-fish, here denominated the Paddle,
frequents the harbours and sand-banks." Barry's
Orkney, p. 295.
COCK-RAW, adj. Rare, sparingly roasted,
or boiled, Loth., Roxb. ; synon. Tliain.
COCKREL, s. The same with E. cockerel, a
young cock ; used to denote a young male
raven.
Glens and haughs
Are huntit for the cockrel, but in vain.
Davidson's Seasons, p. 5.
COCKROSE, s. Any wild poppy with a red
flower, but most commonly the long smooth
headed poppy, S. Coprose, A. Bor. Ray.
"Cop-rose. Papaver rhaeas ;
North." Gl. Grose.
called also Headwork.
COCKS. To cast at the cocks, to waste, to
squander, S.; a metaph. apparently borrowed
from a barbarous custom, not yet entirely
disused. A cock is tied to a stake, with
some room to range for self-defence. Any
one who chooses, for a certain sum, has
liberty to take a throw at him with a cudgel.
He who gives the fatal blow, carries off the
prize.
Sair have we pelted been with stocks,
Casting our money at the cocks ;
Lang guilty of the highest treason
Against the government of reason ;
We madly, at our am expenses,
Stock-jobb'd away
our cash and senses.
Ramsay's Poems, i. S30.
COCK'S-CAIM, s. Meadow Pinks,
koo Flower, Lychnis flos cuculi, Lanarks.
or Cuc-
COCK'S-COMB, s. Adder's tongue, Ophioglossum
vulgatum, Linn., Roxb.
One of the bulbs of the root is supposed to resemble
the comb of a cock ; and, if sewed in any part of the
dresa of a young woman, without her knowledge, will,
it is believed, make her follow the man who put it
there, as long as it keeps its place. The Highlanders
make an ointment of the leaves and root, when newly
pulled.
COCKS CROWING. If cocks crow before
the Ha'-door, it is viewed as betokening the
immediate arrival of strangers, Teviotd.