cockney

noun pl. cockneys

1. a person born in the East End of London, England, traditionally one born within the sound of “Bow Bells” (i.e., the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow) and speaking a characteristic dialect
2. this dialect, characterized by extreme diphthongization, loss of the initial (h) sound, and use of an intrusive (r)
3. loosely any person born or living in London: a humorous or disparaging usage

Origin: ME cokenei, spoiled child, milksop; understood as coken-ey, lit., cock's egg < coken (OE cocena, gen. pl.), of cocks + ey (OE æg), egg; ? infl. by Fr acoquiné, idle, spoiled (< coquin, rascal)

adjective