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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Word origin...Cockney #206928 08/31/2012 11:53 AM Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 1 New York USA 1969 stranger 1969 stranger Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 1 New York USA I've had no luck so far find the origin of the word "Cockney". I know what it means...a Londoner born within the sound of St. Mary-le-Bow's bells but not the derivation of the word itself. Help? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Word origin...Cockney 1969 #206929 08/31/2012 12:23 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 One of the more popular etymologies is that it is from the Middle English coken eye, literally "cock's egg", originally applied to a small, misshapen egg, later used as a term of derision by rural people to refer to city dwellers. It later became specifically applied to Londoners and eventually to one group of Londoners. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Word origin...Cockney Faldage #206934 08/31/2012 4:53 PM Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water Most interesting, thanks. ----please, draw me a sheep---- Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Word origin...Cockney LukeJavan8 #206936 08/31/2012 7:26 PM Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,075 Lancaster, UK Rhubarb Commando old hand Rhubarb Commando old hand Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,075 Lancaster, UK As a Londoner myself, although not, technically a cockney, I agree with Faldo's etymology. There seems, also, to be some conection with "the land of Cockayne," but I'm not too sure just what that involves. However, it woukd appear to be a place of ease and plenty, significantly a land where there is no shortage of food - a very important motivation for the poor of London. An absence of people overlooking and regulating your life and no restirctions o your "liberty" seem to fiogure large in tale of this fabled land. I'm immortal until proven otherwise Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Word origin...Cockney 1969 #206941 09/01/2012 3:35 AM Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,706 down under Candy Pooh-Bah Candy Pooh-Bah Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,706 down under Ah...if only such a place existed. 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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