Heading
to the Dutch colonist (see Irving, Knickerbocker); lastly, during the Civil War, to certain Northern Democrats who sympathised with the South. [Properly the Trigonocephalus contortrix.]
1864. Walt. Whitman, Diary, 10 April [in Century Mag., Oct., 1888]. Exciting times in Congress. The copper-heads are getting furious, and want to recognise the Southern Confederacy.
1872. Daily Telegraph, 29 Aug. Should he [Mr. Greeley] be elected, he will owe his victory to . . . the copperhead ring of the Democratic party.
1881. W. D. Howells, Dr. Breen's Practice, ch. ix. He lived to cast a dying vote for General Jackson, and his son, the first Dr. Mulbridge, survived to illustrate the magnanimity of his fellow-townsmen during the first year of the civil war, as a tolerated copperhead.
1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, 2 March. Gay was executed, I think, in November, 1862, at Indianapolis. He was . . . a virulent copperhead.
Copperman, subs. (Australian
prison).—A policeman. Cf.,
Copper.
Copper-Nose, subs. (old).—The
swollen, pimply nose of habitual
drunkards. A 'jolly' or 'bottle'
nose; in Fr., une bette-rave, i.e.,
a beetroot; also un piton passé
à l'encaustique. Cf., Grog-blossom.
For synonyms for the
nose generally, see Conk.
1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. x. 'The stoutest raven dared not come within a yard of that copper nose.
Copper's Nark, subs. (thieves').—A
police spy; one in the pay of
the police. [From copper (q.v.),
a policeman, + nark, a spy;
used as a verb nark signifies to
watch or look after.]
1879. Thos. Satchell, in Notes and Queries, 5 S., xi., 406. Copper's Nark: A police spy.
1887. W. E. Henley, Villon's Good Night. Likewise you coppers' narks and dubs What pinched me when upon the snam.
1889. Answers, 20 July, p. 121, col. 1. He instructed me . . . on no account to appear to be anxious to pry into their secrets, lest I should be mistaken for a copper's nark, i.e., a person in the pay of the police.
Copperstick, subs. (venery).—The
penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.
Copus, subs. (Univ.).—A wine or
beer cup, which was commonly
imposed as a fine upon those who
talked Latin in hall or committed
other breaches of etiquette. Dr.
Johnson derives it from episcopus,
and if this be correct it is doubtless
the same as bishop.
Copy of Countenance, subs. phr.
(old).—A sham; humbug; pretence.
1579. Gosson, Apol. of the Schoole of Abuse, p. 64 (Arber). They have eaten bulbief, and threatned highly, too put water in my woortes, whensoeuer they catche me; I hope it is but a coppy of their countenance.
1607. Dekker, Westward Ho, Act ii., Sc. 1. I shall love a puritan's face the worse, whilst I live, for that copy of thy countenance.
1637. Fletcher, Elder Brother, V., i. Nor can I change my copy, if I purpose to be of your society.
1754. Fielding, Jonathan Wild, bk. III., ch. xiv. This, as he afterwards confessed on his death-bed, i.e., in the court at Tyburn, was only a copy of his countenance; for that he was at that time as sincere and hearty in his opposition to Wild as any of his companions.
]756. Foote, Englishman from Paris, Act i. And if the application for my advice is not a copy of your countenance, a mask; if you are obedient, I may set you right.
