Cock and Bottle
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A public-house sign, probably meaning that draught and bottled ale may be had on the premises. If so, the word "cock" would mean the tap.
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 “Cock and Bottle” mean?
A public-house sign, probably meaning that draught and bottled ale may be had on the premises. If so, the word "cock" would mean the tap.
Is “Cock and Bottle” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.