cog

The cogs of three wheels fitted together.

noun

The definition of a cog is any of the teeth on a wheel or gear that fits into an opposite notch to cause motion of the wheel, or a person who is important but not critical in the structure of an organization.

An example of a cog is the points on a bike gear that fit into the bike chain in order to move the bike forward.

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"cog." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/COG>.

APA Style

cog. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/COG

cog

1. any of a series of teeth on the rim of a wheel, for transmitting or receiving motion by fitting between the teeth of another wheel; gear tooth
2. a cogwheel
a person or thing regarded as a minor but necessary part of the structure of an activity or organization

Origin of cog

Middle English cog, cogge from uncertain or unknown; perhaps Scand, as in Norwegian kug, Swedish kugge, a cog, tooth from Indo-European an unverified form gug? a hump, ball from base an unverified form g?u-, to bend, arch from source Old English cycgel, cudgel

a projection on a beam that fits into a corresponding groove or notch in another beam, making a joint

Origin of cog

altered (infl. by cog) from earlier cock, to secure, probably ultimately from Italian cocca, a notch

transitive verb

intransitive verb

cogged, cog′ging

to join by a cog or cogs

transitive verb

cogged, cog′ging

to manipulate (dice) in a fraudulent manner

Origin of cog

probably slang extension of cog

Obs. to cheat; swindle

Obs. a deception; trick

or cogn

cognate

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"cog." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/COG>.

APA Style

cog. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/COG

cog

noun

One of a series of teeth, as on the rim of a wheel or gear, whose engagement transmits successive motive force to a corresponding wheel or gear.
A cogwheel.
A subordinate member of an organization who performs necessary but usually minor or routine functions.

Origin of cog

Middle English cogge probably of Scandinavian origin Swedish kugg, kugge

Related Forms:

cogged
adjective

verb

cogged, cog·ging, cogs

verb

transitive

To load or manipulate (dice) fraudulently.

verb

intransitive

To cheat, especially at dice.

noun

An instance of cheating; a swindle.

Origin of cog

Origin unknown

noun

A tenon projecting from a wooden beam designed to fit into an opening in another beam to form a joint.

transitive verb

cogged, cog·ging, cogs

To join with tenons.

Origin of cog

Alteration (influenced by cog ¹) of cock to join with tenons

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.