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.
Derivatives:
cockneyism n.
Etymology: ME cokeney cock's egg, later derog. for 'townsman'