Dr. Bill wrote me, claiming he got lucky--(but we all know luck favors a prepared mind--)
-2. A conical or conical-ended mass of coiled thread, yarn, or roving, wound upon a spindle, etc.


he didn't let me know which dictionary had this bit, a standard, or one devoted to textiles.

so the answer is a cop is a cone of yarn.. mmm cones of yarn...
(actually, my stash of un-knit yarn is become a SABLE -
a Stash Accumulation Beyond Live Expectancy! i have a friend who 'pays' me in yarn to teach her to knit.. and i get about $300 dollars an hour in payment (she came into a large collection of wool, but she is alergic.. so she undervalues it..--i have actualy stopped taking payments.. 1 i felt guilty, and 2--i have so much yarn right now..