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

“Now they’re cogs in enormous, multinational operations where one domino suddenly sends 50 others falling.”

From Los Angeles Times

Brian said one of the hundreds of cogs inside the original mechanism was slipping.

From BBC

Both shortstops are key cogs on teams eyeing a World Series title and perhaps spoiling the Dodgers’ dreams along the way.

From Los Angeles Times

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

Many of the women we spoke to said that some of Fayed’s senior personal assistants were key cogs in the machinery of abuse.

From BBC

Related Words

• prong