[f. COCK v.1 + -ER.]
† 1. A fighter, prizefighter; a contentious, quarrelsome man; a wrangler. Obs.
c. 1275. Prov. Alfred, 704, in O. E. Misc., 138. He is cocker, þef, & horeling.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 173. A newe batayle of foure and seventy comoun fyȝters and cokkers [gladiatorum].
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 242. Thise cokkers and thise bollars, And alle purs cuttars.
2. A supporter or patron of cock-fighting, a cock-fighter; one who breeds or trains game-cocks.
1689. Shadwell, Bury F., I. Wks. 1720, IV. 127. I … out-vapour’d all the Jockeys and Cockers.
1723. Steele, Consc. Lovers, IV. ii. He was the greatest cocker in England. He said Duke John won him many battles, but never lost him one.
1807. Crabbe, Par. Reg., I. Wks. 1834, II. 151. Here his poor bird th’ inhuman Cocker brings, Arms his hard heel and clips his golden wings.
1814. W. Sketchley (title), The Cocker; containing Every Information to the Breeders and Amateurs of … The Game Cock.
1829. A. W. Fonblanque, Eng. under 7 Administr. (1837), I. 321. While Duchesses and Ladies hawk, we cannot expend all indignation on the cockers and bull-baiters.
3. A breed of spaniels trained to start wood-cocks, snipes, and similar game; a cocking dog.
1823. Lockhart, Reg. Dalton, V. v. (1842), 321. Frederick Chisney entered, attended by a couple of small sleek cockers.
1855. Kingsley, Westw. Ho! I. v. 158. His cockers coiled themselves up close to the warm peat-ashes.
