n. & adj.
n. (pl. -eys) 1 a a native of East London, esp. one born within hearing of Bow Bells. b the dialect or accent typical of this area. 2 Austral. a young snapper fish, Chrysophrys auratus.
adj. of or characteristic of cockneys or their dialect or accent. cockneyism n.
[ ME cokeney cock's egg, later derog. for 'townsman' ]