? Obs. Also 6–7 coat(e, (quote). [of uncertain origin. Etymological writers have treated it as a doublet of COAST, mod.F. côtoyer; but under the prec. sb. (quot. 1575) cote and coast are distinguished: cf. also COAST v. 10.]
1. trans. (Coursing.) Of one of two dogs running together: To pass by (its fellow) so as to give the hare (or other animal coursed) a turn.
One dog cotes the other: Sir W. Scott erroneously makes the hound cote the hare or other animal.
1555. Instit. Gentleman, G iij a. Hunters … wil affirme … that the fallowe dogge cotid the whyte, when as euen dede the falow came behind.
1602. 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., II. v. (Arb.), 31. The buck broke gallantly: my great swift being disaduantaged in his slip was at the first behind, marry presently coted and out-stript them.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., xxiii. (1748), 355. Which dog first turns the hare, which first the other coats.
1636. W. Denny, in Ann. Dubrensia (1877), 14. The Swallow-footed Grey-hound … with celeritie Turnes his affrighted game, then coates againe His forward Rivall.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xvii. No greyhound loves to cote a hare, as I to turn and course a fool. Ibid. (1825), Talism., viii. [A dog of] swiftness to cote an antelope.
2. transf. and fig. To pass by, go beyond; to outstrip, surpass.
1566. Drant, Horace, A vij. For he that thincks to coate all men and all to ouergoe.
c. 1590. Greene, Fr. Bacon, I. 144. Coat him, and court her to controll the clowne.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 81. They have in some sorts outgrowne them in it, and quoted them in all, one onely excepted.
1602. Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 330. Wee coated them on the way.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., IV. iii. H 2. Quick obseruation scud To coate the plot, or els the path is lost.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XXIII. 324. My lov’d son, get but to be first at turning in the course, He lives not that can cote thee then.
