Cachecope Bell
Preserved but no longer current.
In some parts of England it was customary to ring a bell at a funeral when the pall was thrown over a coffin. This was called the cachecope bell, from Fr., cache corps, conceal the body. Cachet (kash' a) (Fr.). A seal; hence, a dis- tinguishing mark, a stamp of individuality.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Cachecope Bell” mean?
In some parts of England it was customary to ring a bell at a funeral when the pall was thrown over a coffin. This was called the cachecope bell, from Fr., cache corps, conceal the body. Cachet (kash' a) (Fr.). A seal; hence, a dis- tinguishing mark, a stamp of individuality.
Is “Cachecope Bell” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.