dial. [Perh. the same word as prec., sense 3, in ironical use; cf. line one’s jacket and lambskin vb. in same sense.] trans. To beat, flog, thrash.
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, III. xi. 147. To Cotton (as they say) ones Coat, that is, to baste it.
1746. Exmoor Scolding (E. D. S.), 32. Zey zich a Word more, chell cotton thy Waistecoat.
1863. Mrs. Toogood, Yorksh. Dial., I give thee a good cottoning if to ’s so idle.
1869. Lonsdale Gloss., Cotton, to beat or thrash.
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., Cotton, to flog; to thrash.
