Also 6–7 cock on (the) hoope, (hope, houpe), 7 cock in hoope, 9 cock-a-whoop. [A phrase of doubtful origin, the history of which has been further obscured by subsequent attempts, explicit or implicit to analyse it.
Blount, Glossographia (1670), says ‘Cock-on-hoop; our Ancestors call’d that the Cock which we call a Spigget, or perhaps they used such Cocks in their vessels, as are still retained in water-pipes; the Cock being taken out, and laid on the hoop of the vessel, they used to drink up the ale as it ran out without intermission (in Staffordshire, now call’d Strunning a barrel of Ale) and then they were Cock-on-Hoop, i. e. at the height of mirth and jollity; a saying still retained.’ This account fits the use of the phrase in the 16th c.; but it has more the appearance of an inference from the phrase itself, than of an independent statement of historical facts. For we have no clear evidence that ‘cock’ ever meant a spigot, and even if it did, the use of the ‘hoop’ of the cask as a place on which to lay it, seems to require further elucidation. The matter is perplexed by the occurrence of a ‘hoop’ and of figures ‘on the Hoop’ in tavern-signs from a much earlier date. Thus the ‘George on the Hoop’ is said by Hotten and Larwood Hist. Signboards (ed. 3), 503, to be mentioned in Clause-Roll 43 Edw. III, and later are found the ‘Hart,’ ‘Swan,’ ‘Eagle,’ ‘Falcon,’ ‘Cock,’ ‘Hen’ ‘on the Hoop,’ also the ‘Crown,’ ‘Bunch of Grapes,’ ‘Mitre,’ ‘Angel,’ ‘Bell,’ each ‘on the Hoop.’ Some of these signs still exist; but it is difficult to see what bearing they have on the phrase as originally used, or how the ‘Cock on the Hoop’ as a sign should have given rise to a phrase, more than any of the other devices similarly found ‘on the Hoop’; still more is it difficult to imagine how this cock could be set on or taken off the ‘Hoop’ in connection with a drinking bout. Equal difficulty attends various other suggested explanations of ‘hoop,’ none of which affords the slightest clue to the 16th-c. use.
Since the 17th c. ‘cock’ has been generally identified with the live fowl, which has led to changes both in the grammatical construction and use of the phrase; in accordance with this also, ‘hoop’ has been vaguely referred to F. huppe tufted crest, (a guess of Phillips), and identified with ‘whoop,’ as in war-whoop; these are merely popular etymologies, but they have affected the use of cock-a-hoop by persons who believed in them. The following passages illustrate these remarks.
1403. Add. Charter 5313 Brit. Mus., A messuage called ‘the belle on the hoop.’
1631. Deed (in J. Coleman’s Book Catalogue 1889) relating to ‘two Inns in Shoreditch, one called the Cock and Hoope, and the other the Holy Lambe.’
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Eng. Gram., II. vii. From, of [= off], in, by, have the force of the ablatiue: as … Take the cock of[f] the hoop.
1678. Phillips, Cock-a-hoop (Fr. coc-a-huppe, a Cock with a Crest, or from the Staffordshire custom of laying the Cock or Spigot upon the Barrel, for the company to drink without intermission). All upon the Spur, high in mirth, or standing upon high terms.
1793. W. Roberts, Looker-on (1794), II. 73, No. 39. The Cock on the Hoop may be seen also in Holborn, printed on a board.]
† 1. Phrase. To set (the) cock on (the) hoop, cock a hoop: app. to turn on the tap and let the liquor flow; hence, to drink without stint; to drink and make good cheer with reckless prodigality. Obs.
1529. More, Comf. agst. Trib., II. Wks. 1177/2. They … set them downe and dryncke well for our sauiours sake, sette cocke a hoope, and fyll in all the cuppes at ones, and then lette Chrystes passion paye for all the scotte.
1538. Bale, Thre Lawes, 1806. Cheare now maye I make & set cocke on the houpe. Fyll in all the pottes, and byd me welcome hostesse.
1540. Palsgr., Acolastus (Wedgwood), Let us sette the cocke on the hope and make good chere within doores.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 54.
| He maketh hauok, and setteth cocke on the hoope. | |
| He is so laueis, the stocke beginneth to droope. |
1606. Heywood, 2nd Pt. If you know not me, Wks. 1874, I. 257. These knaues Sit cocke-a-hope, but Hobson pays for all.
1611. Cotgr., Se goguer, to … make good cheere, set cocke-a-hoope, throw the house out at windowes.
1621. Molle, Camerar. Liv. Libr., III. i. 147. Resolued … to set cock in hoope, and in guzling and good cheere spent all that was left.
1658. Brathwait, Hon. Ghost, 26 (N.). The cock on hoop is set, Hoping to drink their lordships out of debt.
† b. By extension: (a) To abandon oneself to reckless enjoyment. (b) To cast off all restraint, become reckless. (c) To give a loose to all disorder, to set all by the ears. Obs.
1547. Boorde, Introd. Knowl., 117. Now I am a frysker, all men doth on me looke; What should I do, but set cocke on the hoope?
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 441 b. There be found diuers … which setting cocke on houpe, beleue nothinge at all, neither regard they what, reason, what, honesty, or what thing conscience doth prescribe.
1576. Newton, trans. Lemnie’s Complex. (1633), 221. Lighting in the company of amorous and beautifull Damosels, they set cocke on hoope, and … become as merry as the merriest.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. v. 83. Youle make a Mutinie among the Guests: You will set cocke a hoope, youle be the man. [Some would connect this rather with 2 or 3.]
† c. As an exclamation of reckless joy or elation.
1568. Jacob & Esau, V. i. in Hazl., Dodsley, II. 246. Then, faith, cock-on-hoop, all is ours! thou, who but he?
† 2. as adv. in phrase To set (oneself or something) cock-a-hoop: i.e., in a position or state of unrestrained elation or exultation. [Quot. 1689 prob. influenced by COCK sb.1 the fowl.] Obs.
1689. Trial Pritchard v. Papillon, 6 Nov. (1684), 31. He sets himself Cock-a-hoop, as if there were no one that took care of the City besides himself.
1720. Gay, Poems (1745), II. 123. Your eyes, lips, breasts are so provoking—They set my heart more cock-a-hoop Than could whole seas of cray-fish soupe.
3. as pred. adj. (in to be, make cock-a-hoop): In a state of elation; crowing with exultation. [Here association with the fowl becomes evident.]
1663. Butler, Hud., I. iii. 14. Hudibras … having routed the whole Troop, With Victory was Cock-a-hoop.
1673. Marvell, Reh. Transp., II. 264. You were exceedingly straitned in time; and then a little after were all Cock-a-Hoop.
1677. Coles, To be cock-a-hoop, ampullari, insolescere, cristas erigere.
c. 1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Cock-a-hoop, upon the high Ropes, Rampant, Transported.
1719. Cordial Low Spirits, 162. The church was very cock-a-hoop, and held up its head and crow’d.
1817. Mar. Edgeworth, Love & L., I. i. To make Catty cockahoop, I told her that [etc.].
1834. Greville, Mem. Geo. IV. (1875), III. xxiii. 104. The Tories have been mighty cock-a-hoop.
1887. H. Smart, Cleverly Won, x. 86. They are all as cock-a-hoop about her chance as ever I saw folks in my life.
4. as attrib. adj. Elated, exultant, boastfully and loudly triumphant.
1837. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), IV. 201. The cock-a-hoop hilarity of the Tories.
1863. Cowden Clarke, Shaks. Char., iv. 102. We never lose the cock-a-whoop vein in Bottom’s character.
5. adv. Elatedly, triumphantly.
1809. W. Irving, Knickerb., III. vi. That ingenuous habit of mind which always thinks aloud; which rides cock-a-hoop on the tongue.
1871. E. C. G. Murray, Member for Paris, II. 10. M. Paul, perceiving a reluctance to quarrel, set down his adversary for a chicken-heart, and began unwisely to crow cock-a-whoop before the time.
Hence Cock-a-hooping vbl. sb.; Cock-a-hoopish; Cock-a-hoopness. (nonce-wds.)
1862. Sat. Rev., XIV. 776/2. These groans and these cock-a-whoopings at the sale of the Cornhill.
1885. Globe, 9 May, 3/1. The younger sister—for France considers her as such—is getting too ‘cock-a-hoopish.’ Ibid. (1889), 23 Nov., 574/1. The boisterous cock-a-hoopness of some of his present associates.
