Anglo-Indian. Also 7 (course, courss), 9 cose, kos, koss. (Pl. same as sing.) [a. Hindī kōs, Pālī koss:—Skr. kroça a measure of distance, but orig. a call, calling distance: cf. COOEE.]
A measure of length in India, varying in different parts from 21/2 miles or more down to about 11/4.
‘Actual measurement of road distance between 5 pair of Akbar’s kos-minárs (coss-pyramids) near Delhi, gave a mean of 2m. 4f. 158yds’ (Yule).
1616. Terry, in Purchas, Pilgrims, II. 1468 (Y.). The length of those … Provinces is … 1000 Courses, every Indian Course being two English miles.
1677. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 63. A pilgrimage to Asmeer albeit a hundred and thirty course or two hundred English miles distant thence.
1753. Hanway, Trav. (1762), II. XIV. v. 363, note. They reckon it two hundred and two coss, each coss of four thousand yards.
1816. ‘Quiz,’ Grand Master, IV. 76, note. It is calculated, that an Indian coss is an English mile and a half; but it differs in the eastern and western parts.
1884. E. Arnold, in Contemp. Rev., Sept., 422. A Koss and a half of a Koss went they.
