[ 'kɒkni ]
■ noun ( plural ~s )
1》 a native of the East End of London, traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells.
↘the dialect or accent typical of ~s.
2》 Austral. a young snapper (fish).
Derivatives
~ism noun
Word History
The word ~ entered English in the 14th century, when it was used to mean a hen's egg. A little later it began to be used of a child who was breastfed for a long period, and from this developed the sense 'a pampered child'. From this ~ came to signify a feeble person, and then a town-dweller regarded as affected or puny when compared to the hardier inhabitants of the country. The current sense arose in the 17th century.