cockney

[ kok-nee ]

noun

, plural cock·neys.

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) 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 initial capital letter) the pronunciation or dialect of cockneys.
3. Obsolete.
   1. a pampered child.
   2. a squeamish, affected, or effeminate person.

adjective

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) of or relating to cockneys or their dialect.

cockney

/ ˈkɒknɪ /

noun

1. often capital a native of London, esp of the working class born in the East End, speaking a characteristic dialect of English. Traditionally defined as someone born within the sound of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow church
2. the urban dialect of London or its East End
3. a young snapper fish

adjective

1. characteristic of cockneys or their dialect of English

Derived Forms

• ˈcockneyish, adjective

Other Words From

• cockney·ish adjective
• cockney·ish·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cockney¹

1325–75; Middle English cokeney foolish person, literally, cock's egg (i.e., malformed egg), equivalent to coken, genitive plural of cok cock ¹ + ey, Old English æg; cognate with German Ei, Old Norse egg egg ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cockney¹

C14: from cokeney, literally: cock's egg, later applied contemptuously to townsmen, from cokene, genitive plural of cok cock ¹+ ey egg ¹

Example Sentences

“Yes, I do,” he says with a Cockney accent so thick Judge Whitehead asks him to deliver his testimony while facing him.

From The Daily Beast

But on the big screen, this bullish Brit transformed into the quintessential Cockney accented tough guy with a big heart.

From The Daily Beast

They have been in situ all week, with tents, Union Jacks, and lashings of cockney wisdom.

From The Daily Beast

Characters in the soap Eastenders, which charts the lives of cockney Londoners, call their children Chelsea.

From The Daily Beast

His candid cockney-accented vocal stylings still reverberate through the Brit pop of today.

From The Daily Beast

"Come in," said a Cockney voice shrill with youth, in answer to her tap; and the child obeyed.

From Project Gutenberg

Here the Scot entered into explanations which threw the Cockney's brain into a complete muddle.

From Project Gutenberg

The dank vapours of Covent Garden are sweet in the nostrils of many a cockney reveller.

From Project Gutenberg

The little cockney children circle around me to get a view from all sides.

From Project Gutenberg

If he be a Cockney soldier he will repeat the word: "'Orspital, mate—lor' luv ye, wish I wuz back!"

From Project Gutenberg