browed, bull-necked, county-cropped . . . crew.
Couple- (also Buckle-) Beggar, subs. (old).—A celebrant of irregular marriages—as the Chaplain of the Fleet; a hedge priest. A Spanish colloquialism for such a marriage is bodijo.
1737. Swift, Proposal for Badges to the Beggars. Nay, their happiness is often deferred until they find credit to borrow, or cunning to steal, a shilling to pay their popish priest, or infamous couple-beggar.
1842. Lever, Handy Andy, ch. xxix. This was a degraded clergyman, known in Ireland under the title of Couple-Beggar, who was ready to perform irregular marriages on such urgent occasions as the present.
Couple of Shakes.—See Brace
of Shakes.
Coupling-House, subs. (old).—A
brothel. [From coupling, the
act of copulating, + house.] For
synonyms, see Nanny-shop.
Couranne.—See Caroon.
Court-Card, subs. (old).—A beau,
or 'swell.' For synonyms, see
Dandy.
Court Holy Water or Court
Promises, subs. phr. (old).—Fair
speeches without performance.
Cousin Betty, subs. (colloquial).—A
half-witted person. For synonyms,
see Buffle and Cabbage-head.
1860. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia's Lovers, ch. xiv. I dunnot think there's a man living—or dead for that matter—as can say Foster's wrong him of a penny, or gave short measure to a child or a cousin betty.
Cousin-Trumps, subs. (old).—One
of a kind: brother smut; brother
chip.
1825. English Spy, p. 255. Most noble cracks, and worthy cousin-trumps, etc.
Couter or Cooter, subs. (common).—A
sovereign. For synonyms,
see Canary, sense 3.
Half a couter = half-a-sovereign.
1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant (3 ed.), p. 444, s.v.
1877. Five Years Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 243. 'A foulcher, with flimsies and couters for a score of quid in it.'
1880. James Payn, A Confidential Agent, I., 207. 'Well, he gave us half a couter at all events,' pleaded John in mitigation.
Cove, Covey, Cofe, Cuffing,
and, in the feminine, Covess,
subs. (general).—1. A person;
a companion. [Some derive
cove from the Gypsy cova, covo
= that man, covi = that woman;
Cova, says Pott (quoted in
Annandale), has a far wider
application than the Latin res;
there is no expression more frequent
in a gypsy's mouth. Others
connect it with the north country
coof; a lout or dolt.] Cove enters
into many combinations: e.g.,
Cross-cove = a robber. Flash-cove = a thief or swindler. Kinchin-cove = a little man. Flogging-cove = a beadle. Smacking-cove = a coachman. Narry-cove = a drunkard. Topping-cove = a highwayman. Abram-cove = a beggar. Queer-cove = a rogue. Nubbing-cove = the hangman. Gentry-cove = a gentleman. Downy-cove = shrewd man. Rum-cove = a doubtful character. Nib-cove = a gentleman, etc., etc., etc., all which see.
