CORPORATION. The magistrates, &c. of a corporate town. Corpus sine ratione. Freemen of a corporation's work; neither strong nor handsome. COSSET. A foundling. Cosset colt or lamb; a colt or lamb brought up by hand. COSTARD. The head. I'll smite your costard; I'll give you a knock on the head. COSTARD MONGER. A dealer in fruit, particularly apples. COT, or QUOT. A man who meddles with women's household business, particularly in the kitchen. The punishment commonly inflicted on a quot, is pinning a greasy dishclout to the skirts of his coat. COVE. A man, a fellow, a rogue. The cove was bit; the rogue was outwitted. The cove has bit the cole; the rogue has got the money. CANT. COVENT, or CONVENT GARDEN, vulgarly called COMMON GARDEN. Anciently, the garden belonging to a dissolved monastery; now famous for being the chief market in London for fruit, flowers, and herbs. The theatres are situated near it. In its environs are many brothels, and not long ago, the lodgings of the second order of ladies of easy virtue were either there, or in the purlieus of Drury Lane. COVENT GARDEN ABBESS. A bawd. COVENT GARDEN AGUE. The venereal disease. He broke his shins against Covent Garden rails; he caught the venereal disorder. COVENT GARDEN NUN. A prostitute. COVENTRY. To send one to Coventry; a punishment inflicted by officers of the army on such of their brethren as are testy, or have been guilty of improper behaviour, not worthy the cognizance of a court martial. The person sent to Coventry is considered as absent; no one must speak to or answer any question he asks, except relative to duty, under penalty of being also sent to the same place. On a proper submission, the penitent is recalled, and welcomed by the mess, as just returned from a journey to Coventry. COVEY. A collection of whores. What a fine covey here is, if the Devil would but throw his net! TO COUCH A HOGSHEAD. To lie down to sleep. CANT. COUNTERFEIT CRANK. A general cheat, assuming all sorts of characters; one counterfeiting the falling sickness. COUNTRY HARRY. A waggoner. CANT. COUNTRY PUT. An ignorant country fellow. COUNTY WORK. Said of any work that advances slowly. COURT CARD. A gay fluttering coxcomb. COURT HOLY WATER, COURT PROMISES. Fair speeches and promises, without performance. COURT OF ASSISTANTS. A court often applied to by young women who marry old men. COW. To sleep like a cow, with a **** at one's a-se; said of a married man; married men being supposed to sleep with their backs towards their wives, according to the following proclamation: All you that in your beds do lie, Turn to your wives, and occupy: And when that you have done your best, Turn a-se to a-se, and take your rest. COW JUICE. Milk. COW'S BABY. A calf. COW'S COURANT. Gallop and sh---e. COW-HANDED. Awkward. COW-HEARTED. Fearful.