[f. COPPER sb.1 9 c.] A sham captain who assumes the title without any right.
1809. W. Irving, Knickerb. (1820), 340. This thrice valiant copper captain.
1865. Daily Tel., 3 Nov., 4/6. There was never a deficiency of copper captains and sham barons.
1887. T. A. Trollope, What I remember, I. ii. 47. How the copper captains … would slink away in search of the cover of darksome nooks no longer to be found!
