subs. (common).—A worthless animal; a fool; said of a horse it signifies a good-for-nothing brute; of a man or woman, a duffer, a ‘rotter.’ [Most likely from the Scots CROCK = an old sheep.]
1887. The Sporting Times, 12 March, p. 2, col. 5. The wretched CROCKS that now go to the post will be relegated to more appropriate work.
1889. Bird o’ Freedom, 7 Aug., p. 3. For five minutes that CROCK went about twice as fast as it had ever done.
1889. Illustrated Bits, 13 July, ‘I say,’ said the Lumberer to the Old Hermit, as they stood at the mouth of the Cave listening to the song birds, ‘you are getting a bit of a CHOCK—failing fast, I should say.’
