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Line 2799 - Commentary Note (CN) More Information

Notes for lines 2023-2950 ed. Frank N. Clary
For explanation of sigla, such as jen, see the editions bib.
2799 by Cock they are too blame. 4.5.61
1778 v1778
v1778
2799 by Cock] Steevens (ed. 1778): “This is likewise a corruption of the sacred name. Many instances of it are given in a note at the beginning of the 5th Act of 2H6 [5.1.68 (3062)]. Steevens.”
1784 ays1
ays1 ≈ v1778 minus v1773 +
2799 Cock] Ayscouth (ed. 1784): “This is a corruption of the sacred name, See note 4, page 48 [0000].”
1819 cald1
cald1: 2H4 //
2799 by Cock] Caldecott (ed. 1819): “This also is a corruption of the sacred name. See Wiv. [1.1.303 (275)]. Page, and 2H4. 5.1 [5.1.1-2 (2788-9)] Shal.”
1854 del2
del2: standard
2799 by cock] Delius (ed. 1854): “by cock entstellt aus by God, um den Missbrauch des göttlichen Namens zu maskiren.” [by cock is a distortion of by God, used to conceal the misuse of the divine name.]
1856 hud1 (1851-6)
hud1 (1851-6): Wiv. //
2799 by cock] Hudson (ed. 1851-6): “For an explanation of the phrase, ‘By cock,’ see the Wiv. 1.1 [275], note 32.”
1864a glo
glo: Shr. //
2799 by cock] Clark and Wright (ed. 1864a [1865] 9: glossary, Cock): “sb. a euphemism for God. Shr. 4.1.118-9 (1744-5)].”
1869 Romdahl
Romdahl: standard + magenta underlined
2799 by Cock] Romdahl (1869, p. 37): “is a corruption of by God. Such corruptions, made in order to disguise the abuse of the Saviour’s or God’s name, are very numerous in vulgar language1).”
<n><p.37> “1) See further Mätzner I. p. 420.” </p.37></n>
1872 hud2
hud2: Giffard analogue
2799 by cock] Hudson (ed. 1872): “The origin and meaning of this oath, also, are wrapped in obscurity. It occurs in several old plays, and Shakespeare has it in at least two other places. The most likely account represents it to have been a humorous oath, the Cock and Magpie being a favourite alehouse sign. In A Catechism by George Giffard, 1583, we have,—‘Because they will not take the name of God to abuse it, they swear by small things, as by cock and pye, by the mouse foot, and many such like.’”
1877 v1877
v1877 ≈ Dyce (Gloss.)
2799 Cock] Furness (ed. 1877): “Dyce (Gloss.): A corruption, or euphemism, for God. This irreverent alteration of the sacred name was formerly very common; it occurs at least a dozen times in Heywood’s Edward the Fourth, where, in one passage, the Herald says, ‘Sweare . . . so help you God,’ and King Lewis replies, ‘So helpe me Cock.’”
1881 hud3
hud3 = hud2 + magenta underlined
2799 by cock] Hudson (ed. 1881): “The origin and meaning of this oath, also, are wrapped in obscurity. It occurs in several old plays, and Shakespeare has it in at least two other places. Probably it was a corruption, or a disguise, of the sacred name. See vol. vi. page 18, note 35, and vol. xi. pate 257, note 1.”
1890 irv2
irv2: standard
2799 Cock] Symons (Irving & Marshall, ed. 1890): “a vulgarism for God.”
1899 ard1
ard1: Chaucer analogue
2799 Cock] Dowden (ed. 1899): “a perversion of ‘God.’ In the Canterbury Tales, Manciple’s Prologue, we have ‘Cockes bones.’”
1903 p&c
p&c ≈ v1877 (Heywood analogue)
2799 by Cock] Porter & clarke (ed. 1903): “For by God: ‘Sweare so help you God . . . So helpe me Cocke’ (Heywood’s ‘Edward IV’).”
1906 nlsn
nlsn: standard
2799 Cock] Neilson (ed. 1906, glossary): “corruption of ‘God.’”
1931 crg1
crg1≈ nlsn
2799 Cock] Craig (ed. 1931): “perversion of God in oaths.”
1939 kit2
kit2: standard + 2H4 //
2799 Cock] Kittredge (ed. 1939): “A vulgar substitute for God in oaths. Cf. Justice Shallow in 2H4 5.1.1[2788]: ‘By cock and pie, sir.’”
1942 n&h
n&h = nlsn
2799 Cock] Neilson & Hill (ed. 1942): “corruption of God.”
1957 pel1
pel1 = n&h
2796 gis] Farnham (ed. 1957): “Jesus.”
1958 mun
mun = n&h; Tim. //
2799 cock] Munro (ed. 1958, glossary): “a corruption of God; firing mechanism of gun; weather-cock; cock-boat; spigot; bird; see also note Tim [2.2.162 (836)].”
1974 evns1
evns1 = n&h
1980 pen2
pen2
2799 Cock] Spencer (ed. 1980): “God (probably with a quibble on the popular name for the penis).”
1982 ard2
ard2 = evns1 + magenta underlined
2799 Cock] Jenkins (ed. 1982): “Corruption of God; but no doubt there is a thought of the male organ too.”
1984 chal
chal = evns1
1988 bev2
bev2 = crg1
1993 dent
dent
2799 too blame] Andrews (ed. 1993): “Too much to blame.”
1997 evns2
evns2 = evns1
1998 OED
OED
2799 by Cock] OED (Sept. 21, 1998): “cock, sb.8 Obs. or arch. Perversion of the word GOD (an intermediate form being gock), used in oaths and forcible exclamations, as by cock, COCK AND PIE; but generally in the possessive, as cock’s body, bones, heart, nouns, pain, passion, soul, etc.
c 1386 CHAUCER Manciple’s Prol. 9 See how for Cokkes bones [v.r. kokes bones, goddes bones] As he wol falle fro his hors atones. c 1460 Towneley Myst. 150 By Cokes dere bonys I mak you go wyghtly. c 1465 E.E. Misc. (Warton Club) 44 By cokkus soule, There is an haare in my haye. 1530 PALSGR. 739/1 Stryke for cockes body. c 1530 Hickscorner in Hazl. Dodsley I. 188 Cock’s death, whom have we here? 1535 LYNDESAY Satyre 2841 War I ane King, sir, be coks passioun! I sould gar make ane proclamatioun. a 1553 UDALL Royster D. I. ii. (Arb.) 18 By cocke, thou sayest truthe. 1567 Trial Treas. in Hazl. Dodsley III. 297 Ah! Cock’s precious sides, what fortune is this! 1613-6 W. BROWNE Brit. Past. I. iv, Then swore by Cocke and other dung-hill oathes. 1633 B. JONSON Tale Tub III. ii, Cock’s bodikins! we must not lose John Clay. 1676 D’URFEY Mad. Fickle I. i. (1677) 3 What Mr. Harry! By Coxbodikins I did not know you. 1719 –– Pills III. 14 By Cock, quoth he, Say you so. 1828 SCOTT F.M. Perth viii, Cocksbody, make that manifest to me. 1851 LONGF. Gold. Leg. III. Nativ. viii, Come, Aleph, Beth; dost thou forget? Cock’s soul! thou’dst rather play!”
2006 ard3q2
ard3q2: H5, KL //
2799 cock] Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “ a corruption of ’God’. Editors regularly claim an obscene double meaning here, and one might compare related expressions where cock means ’penis’, such as ’Pistol’s cock is up’ (H5 2.1.52) and ’Pillock sat on Pillicock hill’ (KL 3.4.75).”
2799