1. An abbreviation of COMPANY; esp. in the sense: The partners or members of a firm whose names do not appear in the style or title.
1759. Compl. Letter-Writer (ed. 6), London: Printed for Stanley Crowder, and Co.
1778. Whitehead’s Newcastle Directory, 49. Sugar-houses: Atkinson and Co., Quay-side. Forster and Co., Close.
1816. ‘Quiz,’ Grand Master, V. 98. He swore he’d give John Co. the slip.
1823. Moore, Fables, v. 61. This most ill-matched unholy Co. From whence the ills we witness flow.
1843. Dickens, Mart. Chuz., xxi. Don’t have my name in it…. I must be Co., I must.
2. A written abbreviation of county.
1866. Tate, Brit. Mollusks, iv. 109. Recorded from … Clifden, co. Galway.
Co, dial. form of COME v.
