Obs. or dial. Forms: 6 copsoll, 7 copsole, 7–8 cope-sale, 8 cope-sal, 9 copsil. [app. f. COPS sb.: the rest is uncertain.]
1. = COPS sb. 3.
1562. Lanc. Wills, II. 34. ij copsolls xvid.
1625. Inv., in Miss Jackson, Shropshire Word-bk., 97. Two pair of Cotterells or Copsoles.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. viii. 335. He beareth Gules, a Cop-sole and Pin, with the chain pendant, Argent, by the name of Copsole. This is very often by old Heralds termed a Dog-Couple, but … I should rather take it for a Shakle and Bolt, with the Chain hanging at it.
1704. [see COPE sb.4].
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., I. s.v. Cart, The Cope-Sale, and Pin.
1847–78. Halliwell, Copsal, a piece of iron which terminates the front of a plough.
1881. Miss Jackson, Shropshire Word-bk., Copsil … c. A piece of iron describing an arc, welded to the end of the plough-beam, perforated and furnished with pins, for adjusting the width and regulating the draught.
2. ‘A wedge for keeping the coulter of an old-fashioned wooden plough in its place at a proper angle to the beam.’
1881. Shropshire Word-bk., 96. Copsils of this kind fell out of use when iron ploughs became general, about 1835–40.
