Chiefly Sc. Forms: 6 Sc. coig, 7– cogue, 8– cog. ‘Kelly writes coag: this, or cogue, most nearly approaches to the sound’ (Jamieson). [Origin uncertain: see various conjectures in Jamieson.]
1. (Sc.) A wooden vessel made with staves and hoops, used in milking cows or ewes, and for other purposes.
The cogue or cogie now or recently used in the south of Scotland is 12 inches deep, 18 inches in diameter at the bottom, narrowing to 15 at the top, with three polished iron hoops, and one of the staves continued as an upright handle.
a. 1568. Bannatyne Poems, 156 (Jam.). Ane coig, ane caird wantand ane naill.
1593. Duncan, App. Etymol. (E. D. S.), Mulctra, a milk-cog.
1768. Ross, Helenore, 136 (Jam.). Gin ye, fan the cow flings, the cog cast awa’.
17[?]. Sc. Song, Cauld Kail in Aberdeen, Chorus. I wadna gie my three-gir’d cog For a’ the queans in Bogie.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., Introd. Bickers, bowls, spoons, cogues and trenchers, formed of wood.
1821. Blackw. Mag., IX. 318. And kilted maiden came her cog to fill.
1854. H. Miller, Sch. & Schm. (1858), 269. A cog of milk occupied a small shelf.
2. A small drinking-vessel or cup, of wood; also † a cogueful, a ‘dram.’
1690. Mrs. Behn, Widow Ranter, I. i. 1. Come, Jack, I’le give thee a Cogue of Brandy for old acquaintance.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills, VI. 351. To relish a Cogue of good Ale.
1724. Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1733), I. 29. Come fill us a cogue of swats.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xxviii. Hooped cogues or cups, out of which the guests quaffed their liquor, as also the broth or juice of the meat.
1887. Kent. Gloss., Cogue, a dram of brandy.
3. (Sc.) A dry measure.
1762. Bp. Forbes, Jrnl. (1886), 205. Carrying a Stocking full of Buckies and a wooden Dish or Cog as a measure.
1814. Proof of Mill of Inveramsay, 1 (Jam.). A cog of sheeling is one fourth of a peck.
Hence Cogue, cog v., trans. to put into a cogue; † intr. to drink drams; Cogueful, cogful, as much as a cogue will hold.
1730–6. Bailey, Cogue, to drink Brandy.
1775. Ash, Cogue, to drink Brandy, to drink drams.
1737. Ramsay, Sc. Prov. (1776), 87 (Jam.). Ye watna what wife’s ladle may cogue your kail.
a. 1693. in Sc. Presbyt. Eloq. (1719), 135. Give him a Cogful of Brose to his belly.
1814. Proof of Mill of Inveramsay, 2 (Jam.). A cogful of meal.
1822. Scott, Pirate, v. A cogfu’ of warm parritch.
