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 browed, bull-necked, county-cropped crew.

Couple- (also Buckle-) Beggar, subs. (old).—A celebrant of irregular marriages—as the Chaplain of the Fleet; a hedge priest. A Spanish colloquialism for such a marriage is bodijo.

1737. Swift, Proposal for Badges to the Beggars. Nay, their happiness is often deferred until they find credit to borrow, or cunning to steal, a shilling to pay their popish priest, or infamous couple-beggar.

1842. Lever, Handy Andy, ch. xxix. This was a degraded clergyman, known in Ireland under the title of Couple-Beggar, who was ready to perform irregular marriages on such urgent occasions as the present.

Couple of Shakes.—See Brace of Shakes.

Coupling-House, subs. (old).—A brothel. [From coupling, the act of copulating, + house.] For synonyms, see Nanny-shop.

Couranne.—See Caroon.

Court-Card, subs. (old).—A beau, or 'swell.' For synonyms, see Dandy.

Court Holy Water or Court Promises, subs. phr. (old).—Fair speeches without performance.

Cousin Betty, subs. (colloquial).—A half-witted person. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.

1860. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia's Lovers, ch. xiv. I dunnot think there's a man living—or dead for that matter—as can say Foster's wrong him of a penny, or gave short measure to a child or a cousin betty.

Cousin-Trumps, subs. (old).—One of a kind: brother smut; brother chip.

1825. English Spy, p. 255. Most noble cracks, and worthy cousin-trumps, etc.

Couter or Cooter, subs. (common).—A sovereign. For synonyms, see Canary, sense 3. Half a couter = half-a-sovereign.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant (3 ed.), p. 444, s.v.

1877. Five Years Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 243. 'A foulcher, with flimsies and couters for a score of quid in it.'

1880. James Payn, A Confidential Agent, I., 207. 'Well, he gave us half a couter at all events,' pleaded John in mitigation.

Cove, Covey, Cofe, Cuffing, and, in the feminine, Covess, subs. (general).—1. A person; a companion. [Some derive cove from the Gypsy cova, covo = that man, covi = that woman; Cova, says Pott (quoted in Annandale), has a far wider application than the Latin res; there is no expression more frequent in a gypsy's mouth. Others connect it with the north country coof; a lout or dolt.] Cove enters into many combinations: e.g.,

Cross-cove   = a robber. Flash-cove   = a thief or swindler. Kinchin-cove = a little man. Flogging-cove = a beadle. Smacking-cove = a coachman. Narry-cove   = a drunkard. Topping-cove = a highwayman. Abram-cove   = a beggar. Queer-cove   = a rogue. Nubbing-cove = the hangman. Gentry-cove  = a gentleman. Downy-cove   =  shrewd man. Rum-cove     = a doubtful character. Nib-cove     = a gentleman, etc., etc., etc., all which see.