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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread "cop" #72809 06/14/2002 10:22 AM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 3 paulw stranger paulw stranger Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 3 This is the part of AWAD that I enjoy the most. The "where, who or how" various terms came into the language is intriguing. Having visited England many times I wondered at the differences of terms for things. Bobby is just one. Anu told us where the term comes from. In the same vein where does the term "cop" stem from for an american policeman? Does anyone know? (grandpa) Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: "cop" #72810 06/14/2002 10:45 AM Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,526 Virginia, USA TheFallibleFiend veteran TheFallibleFiend veteran Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,526 Virginia, USA I found http://www.uselessknowledge.com/word/cop.shtml There's an urban legend about this at http://www.urbanlegends.com/language/etymology/cop_etymology_of.html that refers to an acronym (probably "constable on patrol"). k Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: "cop" #72811 06/14/2002 10:55 AM Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,692 UK dxb Pooh-Bah dxb Pooh-Bah Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,692 UK Cop is a shortened form of “copper” and was in use in the UK before it was in the US. It stems from the slang verb “to cop”. Cop is used in various combinations such as “cop out” (evading one’s responsibilities), “not much cop” (of little use) and “it’s a fair cop” (you’ve caught me bang to rights). The last example connects with the custodian of the law, or peeler (same derivation as bobby) and the derivation of the verb “to cop” in this sense is obscure but may be related to the Old French verb “caper” meaning to seize. (Thank you, OED!) Edit: Drat, FF, you beat me to it with a really good link! dxb Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: "cop" #72812 06/14/2002 12:36 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 Quinion says much the same: http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-cop2.htm Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: "cop" #72813 06/15/2002 3:18 AM Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 833 Eastern Ontario, Canada modestgoddess old hand modestgoddess old hand Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 833 Eastern Ontario, Canada Further to this, how did policemen come to be called "pigs" and "the fuzz"? I'm guessing "the fuzz" might refer to the hair - do policemen have to have very short hair or even buzz cuts? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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