I. ˈkäknē, -ni noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English cokenay, cokeney misshapen egg, spoiled child, effeminate person, literally, cocks' egg, from coken (gen. plural of cok cock) + ey, ay egg, from Old English æg — more at cock , egg
1. obsolete
a. : a spoiled child
b. : an effeminate man : milksop
c. : a townsman as opposed to a sturdy manly countryman — used disparagingly to suggest effeminacy
d. : a squeamish or affected woman
2. often capitalized
a. : someone born within the range of sound of the bells of Bow Church, London : a native or a long-established resident of London
b. : the dialect of London or of the East End of London
3. : a young Australian snapper
• cock·ney·ish -nē(ˌ)ish adjective
II. adjective
Usage: sometimes capitalized
: of, relating to, or resembling a cockney