The etymology of _cop_ is doubtful. It has been associated with the Gipsy _kap_ or _cop_ = to take, with the root of the Latin _cap-io_, and with the Hebrew _cop_ = a hand or palm. FARMER-HENLEY (Dict. of Slang and Coll. Engl.) observes that low-class Jews employ the term, and understand it to refer to the act of snatching. cove »I’m not cut for a respectable _cove_.» (T. T. T. 161. 20.) _Uneducated young man._ »Her master seems to have been an odd sort of a _cove_.» (T. T. T. 172. 20.) _A waiter._ »This _cove_ looks young.» (The Passing 12. 12.) _A constable._ _Cove_ (also _covey_, _cofe_, _cuffing_, and, in the feminine, _covess_) is a common vulgarism for _man_, _person_. The term is no doubt derived from the old Gipsy word _cova_ = man. It is, I should think, not quite as vulgar as the synonymous _bloke_. curse Neither child appeared to _care a curse_ for anybody. (T. T. T. 182. 11.) _A waiter._ _I don’t care a curse_ = I don’t care in the slightest degree. (Ich frage keinen Pfifferling danach; Je m’en fiche comme d’une guigne.) The equivalent _I don’t care a hang_ is rather colloquial. _Some euphemisms for_ damn, damned »Why, _bless_ us, where’s your eyes.» (Three Men In A Boat 171. 13.) _A lockkeeper._ »What’s the difference _blessed if_ I can see.» (Three Men In A Boat 201. 5.) _An old woman of the lower classes._ »Though I’d been sitting in the shop the whole _blessed_ time.» (Tommy And Co. 55. 20.) _The same._ »An afternoon! _Bless_ the man, I want them for a month.» (The Prude’s Progress 19. 6.) _A jovial ex-actress._ »_Blowed_ if I don’t think they’ll be a chirpier lot in t’other place.» (Sketches 201. 25.) _Uncultivated Londoner._ »_Blow_ me if it ain’t me as ’as been cheated out of the fourpence.» (Sketches 128. 6.) _An omnibus conductor._ »_Blow me tight_ if ’ere ain’t a gentleman been looking for Wallingford lock.» (Three Men In A Boat 115. 4.) _A provincial »Arry»._ »_Blimy_ if I don’t believe ’e’s taking ’ome ’is washing up his back.» (The Passing 10. 11.) _Uncultivated young woman._ »Oh, _drat_ the man!» (Three Men In A Boat 233. 28.) _A young lady._ »_Drat_ the boy!» (The Prude’s Progress 48. 4.) _An elderly lady._ »I don’t see the _darned_ good of this part of the trick.» (Woodb. Farm 24. 30.) _Young peasant girl._ »I always see his face when I look on the _darned_ things.» (Woodb. Farm 25. 38.) _The same._ »The _blarmed_ tent is not up yet.» (Three Men In A Boat 19. 15.) »That _blasted_ dog of yours.» (Novel Notes 52. 15.) _A burglar._ »No, _dash it_, I can’t think of that line.» (Three Men In A Boat 92. 16.) »_Danged_ if I see so much fun in it.» (Woodb. Farm. 57. 40.) _Young peasant._ »The dog ought to know a _durned_ sight more about them.» (Novel Notes 152. 26.) _A sailor._ All these expressions are, of course, vulgar, but not equally so.