The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 356
Cow"ard*ice (-?s) , n. [F. couardise , fr. couard . See Coward .] Want of courage to face danger; extreme timidity; pusillanimity; base fear of danger or hurt; lack of spirit.
The cowardice of doing wrong. Milton.
Moderation was despised as cowardice . Macualay.
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Cowardie <Xpage=337>
Cow"ard*ie (kou"?rd-?) , n. [OF. couardie .] Cowardice. [Obs.]
Cowardish <Xpage=337>
Cow"ard*ish , a. Cowardly. [Obs.] " A base and a cowardish mind."
Robynson (More's Utopia).
Cowardize <Xpage=337>
Cow"ard*ize (-<?/z) , v. t. To render cowardly . [Obs.]
God . . . cowardizeth . . . insolent spirits. Bp. Hall.
Cowardliness <Xpage=337>
Cow"ard*li*ness (-l?-n?s) , n. Cowardice.
Cowardly <Xpage=337>
Cow"ard*ly , a. 1. Wanting courage; basely or weakly timid or fearful; pusillanimous; spiritless.
The cowardly rascals that ran from the battle. Shak.
2. Proceeding from fear of danger or other consequences; befitting a coward; dastardly; base; as, cowardly malignity .
Macualay.
The cowardly rashness of those who dare not look danger in the face. Burke.
Syn. -- Timid; fearful; timorous; dastardly; pusillanimous; recreant; craven; faint-hearted; chicken-hearted; white-livered.
Cowardly <Xpage=337>
Cow"ard*ly , adv. In the manner of a coward.
Spenser.
Cowardship <Xpage=337>
Cow"ard*ship , n. Cowardice. [Obs.]
Shak.
Cowbane <Xpage=337>
Cow"bane` (kou"b?n`) , n. (Bot.) A poisonous umbelliferous plant; in England, the Cicuta virosa ; in the United States, the Cicuta maculata and the Archemora rigida . See Water hemlock .
Cowberry <Xpage=337>
Cow"ber`ry (-b?r`r?) , n. ; pl. Cowberries (-r<?/z) . (Bot.) A species of Vaccinium ( V. Vitis-id ), which bears acid red berries which are sometimes used in cookery; -- locally called mountain cranberry .
Cowbird <Xpage=337>
Cow"bird` (-b?rd`) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The cow blackbird ( Molothrus ater ), an American starling. Like the European cuckoo, it builds no nest, but lays its eggs in the nests of other birds; -- so called because frequently associated with cattle.
Cowblakes <Xpage=337>
Cow"blakes` (-bl?ks`) , n. pl. Dried cow dung used as fuel. [Prov. Eng.]
Simmonds.
Cowboy <Xpage=337>
Cow"boy` (-boi`) , n. 1. A cattle herder; a drover; specifically, one of an adventurous class of herders and drovers on the plains of the Western and Southwestern United States.
2. One of the marauders who, in the Revolutionary War infested the neutral ground between the American and British lines, and committed depredations on the Americans.
Cowcatxjer <Xpage=337>
Cow"catxj`er (-k?ch`?r) , n. A strong inclined frame, usually of wrought-iron bars, in front of a locomotive engine, for catching or throwing off obstructions on a railway, as cattle; the pilot. [U.S.]
Cowdie <Xpage=337>
Cow"die (kou"d?) , n. (Bot.) See Kauri .
Cower <Xpage=337>
Cow"er (-?r) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Cowered (-?rd) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Cowering .] [Cf. Icel. kera to doze, liequiet, Sw. kura , Dan. kure , G. kauern to cower, W. cwrian .] To stoop by bending the knees; to crouch; to squat; hence, to quail; to sink through fear.
Our dame sits cowering o'er a kitchen fire. Dryden.
Like falcons, cowering on the nest. Goldsmith.
Cower <Xpage=337>
Cow"er (kou"?r) , v. t. To cherish with care. [Obs.]
Cowfish <Xpage=337>
Cow"fish` (-f?ch`) , n. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The grampus. (b) A California dolphin ( Tursiops Gillii ). (c) A marine plectognath fish ( Ostracoin quadricorne , and allied species), having two projections, like horns, in front; -- called also cuckold , coffer fish , trunkfish .
Cowhage <Xpage=337>
Cow"hage (kou"h?j) , n. [Cf. Hind. kaw<?/nch , ko<?/nch .] (Bot.) A leguminous climbing plant of the genus Mucuna , having crooked pods covered with sharp hairs, which stick to the fingers, causing intolerable itching. The spicul\'91 are sometimes used in medicine as a mechanical vermifuge. [Written also couhage , cowage , and cowitch .]
Cowhearted <Xpage=337>
Cow"heart`ed (-h?rt`?d) , a. Cowardly.
The Lady Powis . . . patted him with her fan, and called him a cowhearted fellow. R. North.
Cowherd <Xpage=337>
Cow"herd` (-h?rd`) , n. [AS. c<?/hyrde ; c<?/ cow + hyrde a herder.] One whose occupation is to tend cows.
Cowhide <Xpage=337>
Cow"hide` (-h?d`) , n. 1. The hide of a cow.
2. Leather made of the hide of a cow.
3. A coarse whip made of untanned leather.
Cowhide <Xpage=337>
Cow"hide` , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cowhided ; p. pr. & vb. n. Cowhiding .] To flog with a cowhide.
Cowish <Xpage=337>
Cow"ish (kou"?sh) , a. [From Cow , v. t. ] Timorous; fearful; cowardly. [R.]
Shak.
Cowish <Xpage=337>
Cow"ish , n. (Bot.) An umbelliferous plant ( Peucedanum Cous ) with edible tuberous roots, found in Oregon. [Written also cous .]
Cowitch <Xpage=337>
Cow"itch (kou"?ch; 224) , n. (Bot.) See Cowhage.
Cowl <Xpage=337>
Cowl (koul) , n. [AS\'3e cuhle , cugle , cugele ; cf. dial. G. kogel , gugel , OF. coule , goule ; all fr. LL. cuculla , cucullus , fr. L. cucullus cap, hood; perh. akin to celare to conceal, cella cell. Cf. Cucullate .] 1. A monk's hood; -- usually attached to the gown. The nname was also applied to the hood and garment together.
What differ more, you cry, than crown and cowl ? Pope.
2. A cowl-shaped cap, commonly turning with the wind, used to improve the draft of a chimney, ventilatingshaft, etc.
3. A wire cap for the smokestack of a locomotive.
Cowl <Xpage=337>
Cowl , n. [Cf. OF. cuvele , cuvel , dim. of F. cuve tub, vat, fr. L. cupa . See Cup .] A vessel carried on a pole between two persons, for conveyance of water.
Johnson.
Cowled <Xpage=337>
Cowled (kould) , a. Wearing a cowl; hooded; as, a cowled monk . "That cowled churchman."
Emerson.
Cowleech <Xpage=337>
Cow"leech` (kou"l?ch`) , n. [2d cow + leech a physician.] One who heals disease of cows; a cow doctor.
Cowleeching <Xpage=337>
Cow"leech`ing , n. Healing the distemper of cows.
Cowlick <Xpage=337>
Cow"lick` (-l?k`) , n. A tuft of hair turned up or awry (usually over the forehead), as if licked by a cow.
Cowlike <Xpage=337>
Cow"like` (-l?k`) , a. Resembling a cow.
With cowlike udders and with oxlike eyes. Pope.
Cowlstaff <Xpage=337>
Cowl"staff` (koul"st?f`) , n. [ Cowl a vessel + staff .] A staff or pole on which a vessel is supported between two persons.
Suckling.
Coworker <Xpage=337>
Co`work"er (k?`w?rk"?r) , n. One who works with another; a co<?/perator.
Cow parsley <Xpage=337>
Cow" pars`ley (kou` p?rs`l?) . (Bot.) An umbelliferous plant of the genus Ch\'91rophyllum ( C. temulum and C. sylvestre ).
Cow parsnip <Xpage=337>
Cow" pars`nip (-n?p) . (Bot.) A coarse umbelliferous weed of the genus Heracleum ( H. sphondylium in England, and H. lanatum in America).
Cowpea <Xpage=337>
Cow"pea` (-p?`) , n. The seed of one or more leguminous plants of the genus Dolichos ; also, the plant itself. Many varieties are cultivated in the southern part of the United States.
Cowper's glands <Xpage=337>
Cow"per's glands` (kou"p?rz gl?ndz`) . [After the discoverer, William Cowper , an English surgeon.] (Anat.) Two small glands discharging into the male urethra.
Cow-pilot <Xpage=337>
Cow"-pi`lot (kou1p?`l?t)/pr>, n. (Zo\'94l.) A handsomely banded, coral-reef fish, of Florida and the West Indies ( Pomacentrus saxatilis ); -- called also mojarra .
Cowpock <Xpage=337>
Cow"pock` (-p?k`) , n. See Cowpox .
Dunglison.
Cowpox <Xpage=337>
Cow"pox` (--p?ks`) , n. (Med.) A pustular eruptive disease of the cow, which, when communicated to the human system, as by vaccination, protects from the smallpox; vaccinia; -- called also kinepox , cowpock , and kinepock .
Dunglison.
Cowquake <Xpage=337>
Cow"quake` (-kw?k`) , n. (Bot.) A genus of plants ( Briza ); quaking grass.
Cowrie <Xpage=337>
Cow"rie (-r?) , n. (Bot.) Same as Kauri .
Cowrie Cowry <Xpage=337>
Cow"rie Cow"ry (kou"r?) , n. ; pl. Cowries (-r<?/z) . [Hind. kaur<?/ .] (Zo\'94l.) A marine shell of the genus Cypr\'91a .
&hand; There are numerous species, many of them ornamental. Formerly C. moneta and several other species were largely used as money in Africa and some other countries, and they are still so used to some extent. The value is always trifling, and varies at different places.
Cowslip <Xpage=337>
Cow"slip` (-sl?p`) , n. [AS. c<?/slyppe , c<?/sloppe , prob. orig., cow's droppings. Cf. Slop , n. ] (Bot.) 1. A common flower in England ( Primula veris ) having yellow blossoms and appearing in early spring. It is often cultivated in the United States.
2. In the United States, the marsh marigold ( Caltha palustris ), appearing in wet places in early spring and often used as a pot herb. It is nearer to a buttercup than to a true cowslip. See Illust . of Marsh marigold .
American cowslip (Bot.) , a pretty flower of the West ( Dodecatheon Meadia ), belonging to the same order ( Primulace\'91 ) with the English cowslip. -- French cowslip (Bot.) , bear's-ear ( Primula Auricula ).
Cowslipped <Xpage=337>
Cow"slipped` (-sl?pt`) , a. Adorned with cowslips. " Cowslipped lawns."
Keats.
Cow's lungwort <Xpage=337>
Cow's" lung"wort` (kouz" l?ng"w?rt`) . Mullein.
Cow tree <Xpage=337>
Cow" tree` (kou" tr?`) . [Cf. SP. palo de vaca .] (Bot.) A tree ( Galactodendron utile or Brosimum Galactodendron ) of South America, which yields, on incision, a nourishing fluid, resembling milk.
Cowweed <Xpage=337>
Cow"weed" (-wEd`) ,, n. (Bot.) Same as Cow parsley .
Cowwheat <Xpage=337>
Cow"wheat` (-hw?t`) , n. (Bot.) A weed of the genus Melampyrum , with black seeds, found on European wheatfields.
Cox <Xpage=337>
Cox (k?ks) , n. [OE. cokes . Cf. Coax .] A coxcomb; a simpleton; a gull. [Obs.]
Go; you're a brainless cox , a toy, a fop. Beau. & Fl.
Coxxa <Xpage=337>
Coxx"a (k?ks"?) , n. [L., the hip.] (Zo\'94l.) The first joint of the leg of an insect or crustacean.
Coxalgia -lj-, Coxalgy <Xpage=337>
Cox*al"gi*a (-?l"j?-?) , Cox"al`gy (k?ks"?l`j?) , n. [NL. coxalgia , fr. L. coxa hip. + Gr. <?/<?/<?/ pain: cf. F. coxalgie .] (Med.) Pain in the hip.
Coxcomb <Xpage=337>
Cox"comb` (k?ks"k?m`) , n. [A corrupted spelling of cock's comb .] 1. (a) A strip of red cloth notched like the comb of a cock, which licensed jesters formerly wore in their caps. (b) The cap itself.
2. The top of the head, or the head itself .
We will belabor you a little better, And beat a little more care into your coxcombs . Beau & Fl.
3. A vain, showy fellow; a conceited, silly man, fond of display; a superficial pretender to knowledge or accomplishments; a fop.
Fond to be seen, she kept a bevy Of powdered coxcombs at her levee. Goldsmith.
Some are bewildered in the maze of schools, And some made coxcombs , nature meant but fools. Pope.
4. (Bot.) A name given to several plants of different genera, but particularly to Celosia cristata , or garden cockscomb. Same as Cockscomb .
Coxcombical <Xpage=337>
Cox*comb"ic*al (k?ks-k?m"?-k a l) , a. Befitting or indicating a coxcomb; like a coxcomb; foppish; conceited. -- Cox*comb"ic*al*ly , adv.
Studded all over in coxcombical fashion with little brass nails. W. Irving.
Coxcombly <Xpage=337>
Cox"comb"ly (k?ks"k?m`l?) , a. like a coxcomb. [Obs.] "You coxcombly ass, you!"
Beau & Fl.
Coxcombry <Xpage=337>
Cox"comb`ry (-r?) , n. The manners of a coxcomb; foppishness.
Coxcomical <Xpage=337>
Cox*com"ic*al (k?ks-k?m"?-k a l) , a. Coxcombical. [R.]
Coxcomically <Xpage=337>
Cox*com"ic*al*ly , adv. Conceitedly. [R.]
Coxswain <Xpage=337>
Cox"swain` (k?k"sw?n, Colloq. k?k"s'n) , n. See Cockswain .
Coy <Xpage=337>
Coy (koi) , a. [OE. coi quiet, still, OF. coi , coit , fr.L. quietus quiet, p. p. of quiescere to rest, quie rest; prob. akin to E. while . See While , and cf. Quiet , Quit , Quite .] 1. Quiet; still. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
2. Shrinking from approach or familiarity; reserved; bashful; shy; modest; -- usually applied to women, sometimes with an implication of coquetry.
Coy , and difficult to win. Cowper.
Coy and furtive graces. W. Irving.
Nor the coy maid, half willings to be pressed, Shall kiss the cup, to pass it to the rest. Goldsmith.
3. Soft; gentle; hesitating.
Enforced hate, Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee. Shak.
Syn. -- Shy; shriking; reserved; modest; bashful; backward; distant.
Coy <Xpage=337>
Coy , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Coyed (koid) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Coying .] 1. To allure; to entice; to decoy. [Obs.]
A wiser generation, who have the art to coy the fonder sort into their nets. Bp. Rainbow.
2. To caress with the hand; to stroke.
Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed, While I thy amiable cheeks do coy . Shak.
Coy <Xpage=337>
Coy , v. i. 1. To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or familiarity. [Obs.]
Thus to coy it, With one who knows you too! Rowe.
2. To make difficulty; to be unwilling. [Obs.]
If he coyed To hear Cominius speak, I 'll keep at home. Shak.
Coyish <Xpage=337>
Coy"ish , a. Somewhat coy or reserved.
Warner.
Coyly <Xpage=337>
Coy"ly , adv. In a coy manner; with reserve.
Coyness <Xpage=337>
Coy"ness , n. The quality of being coy; feigned o<?/ bashful unwillingness to become familiar; reserve.
When the kind nymph would coyness feign, And hides but to be found again. Dryden.
Syn. -- Reserve; shrinking; shyness; backwardness; modesty; bashfulness.
Coyote <Xpage=337>
Coy"o*te (k?"?-t? ∨ k?"?t) , n. [Spanish Amer., fr. Mexican coyotl .] (Zo\'94l.) A carnivorous animal ( Canis latrans ), allied to the dog, found in the western part of North America; -- called also prairie wolf . Its voice is a snapping bark, followed by a prolonged, shrill howl.
Coypu <Xpage=337>
Coy"pu (koi"p??) , n. [Native name.] (Zo\'94l.) A South American rodent ( Myopotamus coypus ), allied to the beaver. It produces a valuable fur called nutria. [Written also coypou .]
Coystrel <Xpage=337>
Coys"trel (kois"tr?l) , n. Same as Coistril .
Coz <Xpage=337>
Coz (k?z) , n. A contraction of cousin .
Shak.
Cozen <Xpage=337>
Coz"en (k?z"'n) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cozened (-'nd) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Cozening (-'n-?ng) . ] [From cousin , hence, literally, to deceive through pretext of relationship, F. cousiner .] To cheat; to defrand; to beguile; to deceive, usually by small arts, or in a pitiful way.
He had cozened the world by fine phrases. Macualay.
Children may be cozened into a knowledge of the letters. Locke.
Goring loved no man so well but that he would cozen him, and expose him to public mirth for having been cozened. Clarendon.
Cowen <Xpage=337>
Cow"en , v. i. To deceive; to cheat; to act deceitfully.
Some cogging, cozening slave. Shak.
Cozenage <Xpage=337>
Coz"en*age (-?j) , n. [See Cozen , and cf. Cousinage .] The art or practice of cozening; artifice; fraud.
Shak.
Cozener <Xpage=337>
Coz"en*er (k?z"'n-?r) , n. One who cheats or defrauds.
Cozier <Xpage=337>
Co*zier (k?"zh?r) , n. See Cosier .
Cozily <Xpage=337>
Co"zi*ly (k?"z?-l?) , adv. Snugly; comfortably.
Coziness <Xpage=337>
Co"zi*ness , n. The state or quality of being cozy.
Cozy <Xpage=337>
Co"zy (k?"z?) , a. [ Compar. Cozier (-z?-?r) ; superl. Coziest .] [Cf. Scot. cosie , cozie , prob. from Gael. cosach abounding in hollows, or cosagach full of holes or crevices, snug, sheltered, from cos a hollow, a crevice.]
1. Snug; comfortable; easy; contented. [Written also cosey and cosy .]
2. [Cf. F. causer to chat, talk.] Chatty; talkative; sociable; familiar. [Eng.]
Cozy <Xpage=337>
Co"zy , n. [See Cozy , a. ] A wadded covering for a teakettle or other vessel to keep the contents hot.
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Crab <Xpage=338>