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.
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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.
costard
The head. I'll smite your costard; I'll give you a knock on the head.
costard
The head. A very old word, generally used in connexion with "cracked."
costard monger
A dealer in fruit, particularly apples.
coster
The short and slang rendering of "costermonger," or "costardmonger," who was originally an apple-seller. COSTERING, i.e., costermongering, acting as a costermonger would.
cosy up
To snuggle.
Cote d'Azur
The Mediterranean coast of France between Menton and Cannes, so named in 1887 by the poet Stephen Liegeard.
Cote d'Or
The department of France of which Dijon is the chief town. It is famous for its vineyards, fdr within its boundaries the whole of the best Burgundy is produced. The area extends south from Dijon, embracing Gevrey, Chambolle, Vougeot, Vosne, Nuits, Aloxe-Corton, Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Santenay, and ends at Chasne.
cotswold lion
Ah ironical name for a sheep, for which Cotswold hills are famous. Then will he look as fierce as a Cotssold lion. UDALL: Roister Doister, IV, vi (c. 1566).
cottage loaf
A loaf of bread in two round lumps, a smaller on top of a larger, and baked with a good crust.
cotton
To like, adhere to, or agree with any person; "to COTTON on to a man," to attach yourself to him, or fancy him, literally, to stick to him as cotton would. Vide Bartlett, who claims it as an Americanism, and Halliwell, who terms it an archaism; also Bacchus and Venus, 1737.
cotton lord
A Manchester manufacturer.
cotton to
to take a liking to something or someone
Cottonian Library
The remarkable library founded by the noted antiquary Sir Robert
cottonopolis
Manchester. A term much in use among the reporters of the sporting press engaged in that locality.
cotton’s
(Charles) Genuine Poetical Works, 12mo. 1771.
cough up
to pay or give something reluctantly
could not get elected dogcatcher
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
couldn't be more different
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
couldn't care less
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
couldn't carry a note in a bucket
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
couldn't happen to a nicer
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery
completely incompetent or inept
couldn't stop a pig in a passage
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
council pop
tap water
council-of-ten
The toes of a man who turns his feet inward.
counsel is no command
Advice does not have to be followed
Counsel is no command. (Strauss, 1994 p. 675)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
count angels on pinheads
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
count in
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
count noses
to count the number of people present
count one's days
to await one's death or the end of something
count sheep
to try to fall asleep
count to five
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
count to ten
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
count to three
to pause briefly before acting
count your blessings
Appreciate what you have
counter
To hit back, to exchange blows. A cross COUNTER is a blow with the right hand given in exchange for one with the left, the counterer preferring to strike rather than to "stop" the blow.—Pugilistic.
counter-jumper
A shopman, a draper’s assistant.
Countercheck Quarrelsome
Sir, how dare you utter such a falsehood? Sir, you know that it is not true. This, in Touchstone's classification (Shakespeare's As You Like It> v, 4\ is the third remove from the lie direct; or rather, the lie direct in the third degree.
counterfeit crank
A general cheat, assuming all sorts of characters; one counterfeiting the falling sickness.
Countess de Lamotte
Partly by means of the queen's signatures, which were almost certainly
country dance
A corruption of the Fr. contre danse; i.e. a dance where the "partners face each other> as in Sir Roger de Coverley.
country mile
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
country put
An ignorant country fellow.
country-captain
A spatch-cocked fowl, sprinkled with curry-powder. A favourite breakfast dish with the captains of country-ships.—Indian.
country-ship
A ship belonging to the East Indies, and trading from port to port in that country.
county brownie
A sheriff.
county family
A family belonging to the nobility or gentry with an ancestral seat in the county.
county palatine
Properly, the -dominion of an earl palatine (see PALATINATE), a county Over which tfre count had royal privileges^ Cheshire and Lancashire are the only Counties
county work
Said of any work that advances slowly.
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