COCKNEY Meaning and
Definition
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Cockney is a term that refers to a particular group of people or their distinctive accent and dialect associated with the East End of London, England. The word originated from the Middle English word "cockeney" and was originally used to describe a spoiled child or pampered pet.
The term "cockney" is commonly used to describe someone born within the sound of Bow Bells, the church bells of St. Mary-le-Bow in the City of London. However, it has come to encompass a wider group of Londoners from the East End, regardless of their birthplace.
The cockney accent is known for its traits such as the substitution of "th" with "f" or "v" sounds, dropping of the letter "h" at the beginning of words, and the use of specific local vocabulary. This dialect feature is often stereotypically associated with working-class Londoners and has been popularized in various forms of media, including films and literature.
In addition to the accent, cockney culture is characterized by a distinct sense of humor, resilience, and pride in their East End heritage. Cockneys are known for their slang vocabulary, which is often rhyming slang, where a phrase or word is replaced with a rhyming phrase that represents the intended meaning.
Overall, the term "cockney" encompasses both a particular group of Londoners and their distinctive accent, dialect, and cultural traits associated with the East End of London.
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An anc. nickname for a citizen of London-now applied by way of contempt.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for COCKNEY *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for COCKNEY
Etymology of COCKNEY
The word "cockney" is believed to have originated from the Middle English term "cokenay", which dates back to the 14th century. "Cokenay" was used to refer to a spoiled, pampered child or a weak, inexperienced person.
The modern meaning of "cockney" emerged in the 17th century and referred to someone born within earshot of the sound of Bow Bells — the bells of the church of St. Mary-le-Bow in the East End of London. Thus, a cockney was originally someone from the working-class neighborhoods of the East End who had a distinctive accent and dialect.
The origin of the term "cokenay" is unclear, but there are a few theories. One possibility is that it came from the combination of Middle English words "cock" (meaning a young male bird) and "nay" (meaning a dunce or simpleton).
Similar spelling words for COCKNEY
- coign,
- cogan,
- cosine,
- cozen,
- cockle,
- Cocking,
- coigne,
- coxon,
- cockayne,
- cockier,
- Cocked,
- cookson,
- cocky,
- cocaine,
- jockey.
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