Obs. or dial. [In sense 2 contracted from or referring to COTQUEAN 3; sense 1 may be more directly related to COT sb.1 or its family.]

1

  † 1.  (See quot.) Obs.

2

1695.  Kennett, Par. Antiq., Gloss., Cotarius … the inhabitant of any country cot…. Hence a country clown is now called a mere cot, as a citizen ignorant of country affairs, a mere cit.

3

  2.  A man who does domestic or household work usually done by women; a ‘betty’; hence cotbetty (U.S.). Obs. exc. dial.

4

a. 1700.  B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Cot for Cotquean, a Man that meddles with Womens matters.

5

1711.  Brit. Apollo, III. No. 144. 3/1. He’s a cot, Still dangling about in the Kitchen.

6

1860.  Bartlett, Dict. Amer., Cotbetty, a man who meddles in the woman’s part of household affairs.

7

1869.  Lonsdale Gloss., Cot, a man who interferes in the kitchen, a mollycoddle.

8

1877.  E. Peacock, N. W. Linc. Gloss., Cot, a man or boy who cooks or does other womanly work. [So in Glossaries of Cheshire, Cleveland, etc.]

9