cockney

plural cockneys · alternative Cockney

1. A native or inhabitant of parts of the East End of London.

   A cockney in a rural village was stared at as much as if he had entered a kraal of Hottentots.

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter III, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

2. obsoleteAn effeminate person; a spoilt child.

   This great lubber, the world, will prove a cockney.

   c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

   1 more example

   A young heir, or cockney, that is his mother's darling[…]

   1592, Thomas Nashe, Pierce Penniless

   Synonyms: nancy

alternative Cockney

1. alternativenot comparableAlternative form of Cockney.

alternative Cockney

1. alternativeAlternative form of Cockney.

alternative cockney

1. UKnot comparableFrom the East End of London, or London generally.
2. not comparableOf or relating to people from this area or their speech style.

plural Cockneys · alternative cockney

1. UKslangAny Londoner.

   COCKNEY, a native of London. An ancient nickname implying effeminacy, used by the oldest English writers, and derived from the imaginary fool's paradise, or lubberland, Cockaygne.

   1859, J.C. Hotten, A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant and Vulgar Words, section 22

2. UKA Londoner born within earshot of the city's Bow Bells, or (now generically) any working-class Londoner.

   Londoners, and all within the sound of Bow Bell, are in reproach called Cockneys.

   1617, Fynes Moryson, An Itinerary

   3 more examples

   A Cockney or Cocksie, applied only to one born within the sound of Bow bell, that is in the City of London.

   1617, John Minsheu, Ductor in Linguas

   “Charming place, ma’am,” said he, bowing to the widow; “noble prospect—delightful to us Cocknies, who seldom see anything but Pall Mall.”

   1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 26, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC

   Parkinson: You made films before, but the part that really made your name was Zulu, wasn't it […] and there of course—against type—you played the toff, you played the officer. Caine: I played the officer, yeah, and everybody thought I was like that. Everyone was so shocked when they met me, this like Cockney guy had played this toffee-nosed git.

   2000 December 18, BBC and Bafta Tribute to Michael Caine, 16:43-17:05

alternative cockney

1. The dialect or accent of such Londoners.