cops and robbers
a game of chase or a situation of pursuit
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copus
A Cambridge drink, consisting of ale combined with spices, and varied by spirits, wines, &c. Corruption of HIPPOCRAS.
copyhold estate
Land held by a tenant by virtue of a copy of the roll made by the steward of the manor from the court-roll kept in the manor-house. It was ended by legislation in 1925.
Coq a Pane
See COCK, A COCK AND BULL STORY. Corah (kor' a), in Dryden's Absalom and Achitophel (q.v.)9 is meant for Titus Gates. See Numb. xvi.
corcoron
(Peter.) The Fancy, a Poem, 12mo. 182-.
corcud's ring
This magic ring was com- posed of six metals, and ensured the wearer success in any undertaking in which he chose to embark (Chinese Tales; Cor cud and his Four Sons').
cordelia's gift
A "voice ever soft, gentle, and low; an excellent thing m woman." Shakespeare: King Lear, v, 3.
cordon bleu
A knight of the ancient order of the St. Esprit (Holy Ghost); so called because the decoration is suspended on a blue ribbon. It was at one time the highest order in the kingdom of France.
cordon noir
A knight of the Order of St. Michael, distinguished by a black ribbon.
cordon sanitaire
A line of watchers posted round an infectious district to keep it isolated and prevent the spread of the disease; a sanitary cordon.
corduroy road
A term applied to roads formed of tree trunks sawn in two longitudin- ally, and laid transversely. Such a road presents a ribbed appearance, like corduroy.
corduroy roads
An American term for the rough roads made by simply laying logs along a clearing.
corey
A penis.
corinne
cocaine
corinth
A bawdy-house. CANT.
corinthian brass
An alloy made of a variety of metals (said to be gold, silver, and copper) melted at the conflagration of Corinth in 146 B.C., when the city was burnt to the ground by the consul Mummius. Vases and other ornaments, made by the Romans of this metal, were of greater value than if they had been silver or gold.
Corinthian Order
The most richly decor- ated of the five orders of Greek architecture. The shaft is fluted, and the capital is bell- shaped and adorned with acanthus leaves, See ACANTHUS.
corinthianism
A term derived from the classics, much in vogue some years ago, implying pugilism, high life, "sprees," roystering, &c.—Shakspeare, 1 Hen. IV. ii. 4. The immorality of Corinth was proverbial in Greece. Κορινθιάζεσθαι, to Corinthianize, indulge in the company of courtezans, was a Greek slang expression. Hence the proverb—
cork
A broken man, a bankrupt. Probably intended to refer to his lightness, as being without "ballast."
cork-brained
Light-headed, foolish.
corkage
Money charged when persons at an hotel provide their own wine—sixpence being charged for each "cork" drawn.
corked
Said of wine which tastes of cork, from being badly decanted, or which has lost flavour from various other obvious causes.
corker
"that’s a CORKER," i.e., that settles the question, or closes the discussion.
corks
A butler. Derivation very obvious.
corn in egypt
A popular expression which means a plentiful supply of materials for a dinner, &c., or a good supply of money. Its origin is of course Biblical.
corn juice
whiskey
corned
Drunk.
corned
Drunk or intoxicated. Possibly from soaking or pickling oneself like CORNED beef.
corner
"the CORNER," Tattersall’s famous horse repository and betting rooms, so called from the fact of its situation, which was at Hyde Park Corner. Though Tattersall’s has been removed some distance, to Albert Gate, it is still known to the older habitués of the Subscription Room as "the CORNER."
corner the market
To gain control of a market or industry
corner-man
The end singer of a corps of Ethiopian or nigger minstrels. There are two corner men, one generally plays the bones and the other the tambourine. Corner-men are the grotesques of a minstrel company.
cornered
Hemmed in a corner, placed in a position from which there is no escape.
cornflake
Fake.
cornhole
The anus.
cornish as a native language
It is still spoken as an acquired language by a few cultured Cornishmen and there is a certain literature available.
cornish hug
A particular lock in wrestling, peculiar to the people of that county.
cornish language
This member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages became virtually extinct nearly 200 years ago.
Cornubian Shore
Cornwall, famous for its tin mines. . . . from the bleak Cornubian shore Dispense the mineral treasure, which of old Sidonian pilots sought.
corny-faced
A very red pimpled face.
corporal
To mount a corporal and four; to be guilty of onanism: the thumb is the corporal, the four fingers the privates.
Corporal Violet
Napoleon Bonaparte; because when banished to Elba he told his friends he would return with the violets. "Corporal Violet" became a favourite toast of his partisans, and when he reached Frejus a gang of women assembled with violets, which were freely sold. The shibboleth was, "Do you like violets?
corporate ladder
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
corporate welfare bum
A company that relies heavily on government subsidies or support
corporation
A large belly. He has a glorious corporation; he has a very prominent belly.
corporation
The protuberant front of an obese person. Probably from the old announcements which used to be made, and are made now in some towns where improvements are made by the municipal authorities, "Widened at the expense of the CORPORATION."
corporation pop
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Corps Diplomatique
A diplomatic body, the foreign representatives at a Court collectively.
corpse
To stick fast in the dialogue; to confuse, or put out the actors by making a mistake.—Theatrical.
Corpse Candle
The ignis fatnus is so called by the Welsh because it was supposed to forebode death, and to show the road that the corpse would take. The large candle used at lich wakes — i.e. at the watching of a corpse before interment — had the same name.
Corpus Christi
A festival of the Church, kept on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, in honour of the Blessed Sacrament. It was instituted by Urban IV in 1264, and was the regular time for the performance of religious dramas by the trade guilds. In England many of the Corpus Christi plays of York, Coventry, and Chester are extant.
corpus delicti
The material thing in respect to which a crime has been committed; thus a murdered body or a portion of the stolen property would be a "corpus delicti.
Corpuscular Philosophy
The theory pro- mulgated by Robert Boyle which sought to account for all natural phenomena by the position and motion of corpuscles. Cp. ATOMIC PHILOSOPHY.
corr
A fight.
correctamundo
correct
cosh
The cane.
cosh
A neddy, a life-preserver; any short, loaded bludgeon.
cosset
A foundling. Cosset colt or lamb; a colt or lamb brought up by hand.
cost cutting
Reducing expenses to save money
cost the earth
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Costa Brava
The precipitous coast of Spain lying on the Mediterranean between Port Bou and San Feliu de Guixols.
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