An etymological dictionary of the Scottish language - Electric Scotland

COD [468] COF
invitation ; although I cannot suppose that the one
term can be viewed as having any affinity to the other.
It seems, indeed, to be used as equivalent to Sornar.
But I cannot learn that there is any recollection of the
use of it in the north of S.
We can scarcely trace it to Isl. quoed, petitio, as if
formed like Thigger from Thig, to beg. The only E.
word that resembles it is Codders, "gatherers of pease,"
Johns.
CODE, s. A chrysom. V. CUDE.
CODGEBELL, s. An earwig. V. COCH-
BELL.
To CODLE (corn), v. a. To make the grains
fly out of the husks by a stroke, S. B. ; perhaps
from cod, the pod.
CODROCH, adj. 1. Rustic, having the manners
of the country, Loth., Fife.
For what use was I made, I wonder ?
It was na tamely to chap under
The weight o' ilka codroch chiel,
That does my skin to targets peel.
Fergussoris Poems, ii. 70.
2. It is also expl. dirty, slovenly,
as synon. with
hogry-mogry, Loth.
It is perhaps allied to Ir. cudar, the rabble, the common
people ; or Teut. kuilde, the herd.
Codroch seems, however, more immediately allied to
Gael, codromtha, uncivilized ; codramach, a rustic, a
clown. It is pronounced q. Cothrugh, S. B.
CODRUGH, adj. Used as synon. with Caldrife,
Strathmore.
Perhaps of Teut. origin, from koude, cold, and rijck,
added to many words, as increasing their signification ;
blind-ryck, q. rich in blindness ; doof-rijck, very deaf ;
dul-rijck, &c.
COELTS.
" This iyle is full of nobell coclts with certain fresche
water loches, with meikell of profit." Monroe's lies,
p. 8. Qu. colts, young horses ? The isle described is
Duray.
To COFF, COFFE, v. a. 1. To buy, to purchase.
This word is used both in the North
and South of S., but far more commonly the
pret. coft.
I sought the fair, for homester employ,
To coff what bonny trinkets I mith see,
By way o' fairin to my lass, frae me.
Shirrefs' Poems, p. 40.
He that all man-kynd coft fra care,
Grawut hym in hevyn to be happy.
Wyntovm, ix. 10. 54.
' ' Our wol is sa quhyt and small, that the samyn is
desyrit be all people, and coft with gret pryce speciallie
with niarchandis quhair it is best knawin." Bellend.
Descr. Alb. c. 4.
He sailit over the sey sa oft and oft
Quhil at the last ane seinelie ship he coft.
Priests of Peblis, Pink. S. P. Repr., L 10.
A' the lasses loup bank height
Wi' perfect joy,
'Cause lads for them coff broach sae bright,
Or shining toy.
The Farmer's Ha', st. 28.
The sweet-meats circulate with better will,
And Huckster Maggy coffs her dinner gill.
Village Fair, Bluckw. Mag., Jan. 1821, p. 432.
The pret. and part. pa. coft nearly resemble Dan.
kioebt, bought, purchased.
2. To procure, although not in the way of absolute
purchase ; used improperly.
"Mr. David Seton, fourth son of Sir Gilbert Seton
of Parbroth, was an singular honest man, and
mareit all his eldest brother dochters landit
upon
men, and payit thair tocharis, and coft ladies of heretage
to his brother sones."
"William first Lord Seyton coft the lady Gordon of
heretage, to have bene mareit upon his eldest sone,
callit Johne, thairby for to have eikit his hous and
living."
"This ladie coft the Ladie Caristoun of heretage,
and gave in mariage to her sones secund sone, callit
John, and coft also the lands of Foulstruther," &c.
Blue Book of Seton, be Sir Richard Maitland of
Ledington; V. Edin. Mag. and Rev. for Sept., 1810, p.
327, 328. 330.
The good old knight uses the term as if he had lived
in that era in which wives were literally bought. But
it is obvious that he applies it, although rather by inversion,
merely in reference to the prudential means
employed by parents or tutors, for obtaining what are
called good matches for those under their charge. For
they are always "ladies of heretage." Many parents
in our own time are actuated by the same mercantile
ideas, in the settlement of their children ; although
they are not so blunt as to use the terms buy and wit.
As in the account given of the lady mentioned in the
last quotation, one word may be applied with the same
propriety to their matrimonial, as to their mercantile,
transactions. She coft a itrife for her son, and she coft
also the lands of Foulstruther.
3. To barter, to exchange.
"To pay
bot vij m, quia the half of the malt scat
wes gevm quyt be umquhile Erie William in coffing for
landis he gat therfor in Greinvall. Reutall of Orkn. p.
7, A. 1502.
Su.-G. koep-a, kaup-a, permutare. Koepajord ijord,
agrum cum agro permutare. The S. word used in this
sense is Coup.
Alem. couft-un, they bought, Germ, kaufte, gekaufte,
bought ; Moes-G. kaup-an, Isl. kaup-a, Su.-G. koep-a,
Germ, kauf-en, Belg. koop-en, Lat. cauponari, 0. Fr.
a-chapt-er, to buy. V. COUP, v.
COFE, s. Bargain, perhaps strictly by barter
or exchange.
"That scho has na richt to the said landis of
Brouneside, be resone of the cofe made betuix her &
vmquhile Johne of Brakanerig." Act. Audit. A. 1471,
p. 12.
This seems originally the same with Coup, exchange,
q. v. Sw. koep signifies a purchase, a bargain. But
cofe in form more nearly resembles Germ, kauff, id.
V. COFF, v.
COFE AND CHANGE, is a phrase
which occurs
in our old acts.
"In the actioune for the wrangwiss occupacioune
of the twa part of the landis of Hoppringill clamyt &
occupijt be the said Margret & William, be resone of
cofe