a very ancient nickname for a citizen of London. Ray says, an interpretation of it is, A young person coaxed or cocquered, made a wanton, or nettle cock, delicately bred and brought up, so as when arrived at man's estate to be unable to bear the least hardship. Another, A person ignorant of the terms of country economy, such as a young citizen, who having been ridiculed for calling the neighing of a horse laughing, and told that it was called neighing, next morning, on hearing the cock crow, to show instruction was not thrown away upon him, exclaimed to his former instructor, How that cock neighs! whence the citizens of London have ever since been called cock-neighs, or cockneys. Whatever may be the origin of this term, we at least learn from the following verses, attributed to Hugh Bagot earl of Norfolk, that it was in use in the time of king Henry II.

Was I in my castle at Bangsye, Far by the river Waverly; I would not care for the king of cockney, (i.e. the king of London.)

The king of the cockney occurs among the regulations for the sports and shows formerly held in the Middle Temple, on Childermas-day, where he had his officers, a marshal, constable, butler, &c.—See Dugdale's Origines Juridicales, p. 247.