— cockneyish , adj. — cockneyishly , adv.
/kok"nee/ , n. , pl. cockneys , adj.
n.
1. ( sometimes cap. ) a native or inhabitant of the East End district of London, England, traditionally, one born and reared within the sound of Bow bells.
2. ( sometimes cap. ) the pronunciation or dialect of cockneys.
3. Obs.
a. a pampered child.
b. a squeamish, affected, or effeminate person.
adj.
4. ( sometimes cap. ) of or pertaining to cockneys or their dialect.
[ 1325-75; ME cokeney foolish person, lit., cock's egg (i.e., malformed egg), equiv. to coken, gen. pl. of cok COCK 1 + ey, OE aeg; c. G Ei, ON egg EGG ]