Also 5–6 coker, 6 koker, cokker. [Found only since 15th c.; origin obscure. Cf. however the 16th-c. equivalent COCKLE v.3, which is identical in form and sense with a 16th-c. Du. kokelen, keukelen ‘nutrire sive fovere culina’ (Kilian), i.e., to nourish or foster in the kitchen; but it is doubtful whether the Du. word was connected with kokene ‘kitchen’ exc. by ‘popular etymology.’ Cf. also obs. F. coqueliner (un enfant) to dandle, cocker, pamper, a child (Cotgr.). The Eng. cocker and cockle have the form of iterative diminutives of COCK v.5, and the whole were prob. derivatives of COCK sb.1, with the notion ‘to make a nestle-cock, chick (L. pullus), or darling of.’ Cf. etymological note to COCKNEY.
Some have thought this word identical with the next (which has also a variant cockle); but nothing has been found to support this suggestion. (Welsh cocr, and cocreth given in Llwyd 215 a, are from Eng.)]
trans. To indulge or pamper (a child, favorite, etc.); to treat with excessive tenderness or care.
1499. Pynson, Promp. Parv., Cokeryn, carifoveo.
1530. Palsgr., 488/2. I coker, or cherysshe to moche. Je mignotte. This boye canne never thrive, he is cokered so moche. I coker, I bring up with daynty meates. Jaffriande.
1550. Nicolls, Thucyd., 65 (R.). Taking it for shame somuche to cocker themself.
1600. Heywood, 2nd Pt. Edw. IV., Wks. 1874, I. 151. How can ye once conceit so base a thing, That haue beene kist and cokerd by a King?
1611. Bible, Ecclus. xxx. 9. Cocker thy childe, and hee shall make thee afraid.
1611. J. Hull, St. Peter’s Proph., 363. No creatures more cocker their yong, then the Asse and the Ape.
1682. Shadwell, Lanc. Witches, I. (1720), III. 230. Because thy foolish Mother has cocker’d thee with Morning Caudles.
1867. Carlyle, Remin., II. 116. Some old valetudinarian … continually cockering himself, and suffering.
b. With up, meaning (a.) To bring up indulgently and luxuriously; (b.) to coddle up (an invalid) so as to restore him to strength; (c.) to encourage or hearten by kindness or coaxing.
1530. Palsgr., 488/2. Coker hym up thus in his youthe, and you shall have a fayre caulfe of hym shortly.
1605. B. Jonson, Volpone, I. i. But cocker vp my genius, and liue free To all delights.
1761. Gray, Lett., in Poems (1775), 293. Being cockered and spirited up by some friends I got my name suggested to Lord Bute.
1850. Kingsley, Alt. Locke, viii. (1879), 98. If she was a lady she’d be cockered up with all sorts of soups and jellies.
1859. Darwin, in Life & Lett. (1887), II. 229. You have cockered me up to that extent, that I now feel [etc.].
c. To indulge or humor in (a practice, etc.).
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. i. 1. How careleslye they cocker themselves in their sins.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus i. 6. 119. By mild reproofes they rather cocker and beare them in their sinnes, then correct them.
1706. Collier, Refl. Ridic., 299. Cherishes and cockers them in so gentle an Errour.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xiii. I have not been cockered in wantonness or indulgence.
d. fig. To foster, indulge (an appetite, idea, hope, evil, etc.). Also with up.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., 175. I … cannot flatter Folly, or fawne vpon Vanity, or cocker Ignoraunce, or sooth-vp Vntruth, or applaude to Arrogancy, either in foe, or frend.
1628. Le Grys, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, 98. Too foolishly I cocker my own hopes.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, IV. 321. [He] cockers up that dangerous Propensity, which he ought … to subdue.
1861. Gen. P. Thompson, Audi Alt., III. clxxv. 208. If they cocker up the evil by refusing to apply the high-handed remedy.
Hence Cockered ppl. a., Cockering vbl. sb. and ppl. a.; Cockeringly adv.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 85. Cokerynge, or grete cherschynge, focio, nutricio.
1580. Baret, Alv., C 728. A father to much cockering, pater nimis indulgens.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia, II. 225. These coklings cokred we bewaile too late, When that we see our offspring gaily bent.
1595. Shaks., John, V. i. 70. Shall a beardlesse boy, A cockred-silken wanton braue our fields…?
1607. Fletcher, Woman Hater, I. iii. Our young wanton cocker’d heirs.
1607. Topsell, Serpents (1608), 73. Their [Bees’] young ones be not very nice or tender, nor cockeringly brought up.
a. 1666. C. Hoole, School-Colloq. (1688), 293. You are content to enjoy your mothers cockering.
1693. Locke, Educ., § 4. Most children’s constitutions are … harm’d, by cockering and tenderness.
a. 1703. Burkitt, On N. T., 1 Peter iv. 17. God … is no cockering Father to indulge his children to their ruin.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), VII. xxxi. 124. A cockered favorite.
1843. Sir T. Watson, Lect. Physic., vii. (1857), I. 101. Fearing to render them effeminate by over care and cockering.
