Obs. or arch. Perversion of the word GOD (an intermediate form being gock), used in oaths and forcible exclamations, as by cock, COCK AND PIE; but generally in the possessive, as cock’s body, bones, heart, nouns, pain, passion, soul, etc.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Manciple’s Prol., 9. See how for Cokkes bones [v.r. kokes bones, goddes bones] As he wol falle fro his hors atones.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 150. By Cokes dere bonys I mak you go wyghtly.
c. 1465. E. E. Misc. (Warton Club), 44. By cokkus soule, There is an haare in my haye.
1530. Palsgr., 739/1. Stryke for cockes body.
c. 1530. Hickscorner, in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 188. Cock’s death, whom have we here?
1535. Lyndesay, Satyre, 2841. War I ane King, sir, be coks passioun! I sould gar make ane proclamatioun.
a. 1553. Udall, Royster D., I. ii. (Arb.), 18. By cocke, thou sayest truthe.
1567. Trial Treas., in Hazl., Dodsley, III. 297. Ah! Cock’s precious sides, what fortune is this!
1613–6. W. Browne, Brit. Past., I. iv. Then swore by Cocke and other dung-hill oathes.
1633. B. Jonson, Tale Tub, III. ii. Cock’s bodikins! we must not lose John Clay.
1676. D’Urfey, Mad. Fickle, I. i. (1677), 3. What Mr. Harry! By Coxbodikins I did not know you. Ibid. (1719), Pills, III. 14. By Cock, quoth he, Say you so.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, viii. Cocksbody, make that manifest to me.
1851. Longf., Gold. Leg., III. Nativ., viii. Come, Aleph, Beth; dost thou forget? Cock’s soul! thou’dst rather play!
