Obs. or dial. Also 7 coap, coupe. [Derivation uncertain; sometimes referred to COOP v.1] trans. To tie or sew up the mouth of (a ferret); also fig. of a person. Const. up.
1601. Deacon & Walker, Spirits & Divels, 214. It shall not be amisse to cope vp your lips a little.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 9. Neither are they here coped from all manner of speach, when iust occasion of speach is offred.
1625. Gonsalvio’s Sp. Inquis., 105. By this their so strait enjoy[n]ing them silence … they cope them with needle and threed and so keep in all their knauary and tyranny.
1631. Dekker, Match Mee, IV. Wks. 1873, IV. 193. Your lips coap’d like a ferret.
1631. Brathwait, Whimzies, 99. His nimble ferrets must now become pioners for their master who coupes them.
1672. Eachard, Hobbs’ State Nat., 86. Roger has a vocal organ … called a mouth, and being not muzled, gagg’d, or cop’d … may stretch it as wide as he pleases.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Cope. The use of this word is confined to warreners, who are said to ‘cope’ their ferrets, when they sew or tie up their mouths, to prevent them from biting rabbits, when they … drive them from their holes.
