cog

¹

[ kog, kawg ]

noun

1. a gear tooth, formerly especially one of hardwood or metal, fitted into a slot in a gearwheel of less durable material.
2. a cogwheel.
3. a person who plays a minor part in a large organization, activity, etc.:

   He's just a small cog in the financial department.

verb (used without object)

, cogged, cog·ging.

1. (of an electric motor) to move jerkily.

verb (used with object)

, cogged, cog·ging.

1. to roll or hammer (an ingot) into a bloom or slab.

cog

²

[ kog, kawg ]

verb (used with object)

, cogged, cog·ging.

1. to manipulate or load (dice) unfairly.

verb (used without object)

, cogged, cog·ging.

1. to cheat, especially at dice.

cog

³

[ kog, kawg ]

noun

1. Carpentry. (in a cogged joint) the tongue in one timber, fitting into a corresponding slot in another.
2. Mining. a cluster of timber supports for a roof. Compare chock ( def 4 ).

verb (used with or without object)

, cogged, cog·ging.

1. Carpentry. to join with a cog.

cog.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. cognate.

cog

¹

/ kɒɡ /

verb

1. slang.
   to cheat (in a game, esp dice), as by loading a dice

cog

²

/ kɒɡ /

noun

1. a tenon that projects from the end of a timber beam for fitting into a mortise

verb

1. tr to join (pieces of wood) with cogs

cog

³

/ kɒɡ /

noun

1. any of the teeth or projections on the rim of a gearwheel or sprocket
2. a gearwheel, esp a small one
3. a person or thing playing a small part in a large organization or process

verb

1. tr metallurgy to roll (cast-steel ingots) to convert them into blooms

Word History and Origins

Origin of cog¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English cogge, probably from a North Germanic language; compare Swedish kugge, Norwegian kugg “cog”; akin to German Kugel “bullet, ball, shot,” Old English cycgel ( cudgel ( def ) )

Origin of cog²

First recorded in 1525–35; origin uncertain

Origin of cog³

1855–60; special use of cog ¹; replacing cock in same sense, special use of cock ¹ (in sense of projection); coak

Word History and Origins

Origin of cog¹

C16: originally a dice-playing term, of unknown origin

Origin of cog²

C19: of uncertain origin

Origin of cog³

C13: of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish kogge, Swedish kugge, Norwegian kug

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. slip a cog, to make a blunder; err:

   One of the clerks must have slipped a cog.

More idioms and phrases containing cog

In addition to the idiom beginning with cog , also see slip a cog .

Example Sentences

"I think about it as a cog in the wheel -- there are going to be other drugs that support other aspects of Parkinson's. Taking multiple drugs is never fun, but it's a complex condition and there can only be complex solutions," she said.

From Science Daily

The 24-year-old was a crucial cog in the United States' Olympic gold-medal winning campaign, hitting the back of the net three on three occasions at Paris 2024.

From BBC

At the set-piece she was a key cog in the Irish line-out, winning 13 in total, including one steal.

From BBC

The 24-year-old was a crucial cog in Emma Hayes' United States gold-medal-winning machine, hitting the back of the net on three occasions at Paris 2024.

From BBC

Molden has become a key cog in the secondary since joining the Chargers after training camp in a trade with the Tennessee Titans, starting three games with 18 tackles and one interception.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• prong