cock a corruption of, or euphemism for
“God: Cock's passion,”
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, iv. 1.
103
;
“By cock,”
HAMLET, iv. 5. 59.
(This irreverent alteration of the sacred name was formerly very common: it occurs at
least a dozen times in Heywood'sEdward the Fourth, where one
passage is
“Herald. Sweare on this booke, King Lewis, so help you God,
You meane no otherwise then you haue said.
King Lewis. So helpe me Cock as I dissemble not.”
Part ii. sig. N 4, ed. 1619. )
“Herald. Sweare on this booke, King Lewis, so help you God,
You meane no otherwise then you haue said.
King Lewis. So helpe me Cock as I dissemble not.”
Part ii. sig. N 4, ed. 1619. )
