[Corruption of Welsh coch a bon ddu lit. ‘red with black trunk or stem (pon)’; various corruptions of the Welsh spelling are found in Angling books.] Name of an artificial fly used by anglers.
1852. Meanderings of Mem., I. 65. Who can trim a cock-abundy, turn a rod with him?
1855. Kingsley, Lett., in Pref. Mem. Alt. Locke (1881), 54. A couple of dozen of good flies, viz. cock a bondhues, [etc.].
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., vi. (1889), 45. ‘These bang-tailed little sinners any good?’ said Drysdale, throwing some cock-a-bondies across the table.
1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 29 June, 3/1. I put on a fly which I know cannot be on the water because it does not exist—to wit, a fair-sized coch-y-bondhu.
