A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

co-star --- 1919 as a verb; 1926 as a noun, from co- + star (q.v.).

costard --- 1292, perhaps from O.Fr. coste "rib." A kind of large apple with prominent "ribs" (also applied derisively to "the head"); hence costermonger (1514), "man who sells food in the streets of London from a barrow;" used as a term of abuse in Shakespeare.

costive --- c.1400, from O.Fr. costivé, from L. constipatus, from constipare (see constipation).

costume --- 1715, art term, from Fr., from It., from L. consuetudo "custom," and essentially the same word as custom but arriving by a different etymology. From "customary clothes of the particular period in which the scene is laid," meaning broadened by 1818 to "any defined mode of dress." Costume jewelry is first attested 1933.

cot --- small bed, 1634, from Hindi khat "couch, hammock," from Skt. khatva.

cote --- O.E. cote, fem. of cot (pl. cotu) "small house" (see cottage). Applied to buildings for animals from c.1420.

coterie --- 1738, from Fr., originally an organization of peasants holding land from a feudal lord, from cotier "tenant of a cote" (see cottage).

cotillion --- 1766, from Fr., originally "petticoat," a double dim. of O.Fr. cote "skirt" (see coat), its application to "a dance" is obscure. Meaning "formal ball" is 1898, Amer.Eng.

cottage --- c.1272, from O.Fr. cotage, from cote "hut, cottage" + Anglo-Norm. suffix -age (probably denoting "the entire property attached to a cote"). O.Fr. cot is probably from O.N. kot "hut," cognate of O.E. cot, cote "cottage, hut," from P.Gmc. *kut. Meaning "small country residence" (without suggestion of poverty or tenancy) is from 1765. First record of cottage cheese is from 1848. Obsolete cotquean (1547) meant "housewife of a cot," hence "a vulgar beldam, scold" [OED]; also used contemptuously (by Shakespeare, etc.) of men seen as overly interested in housework.

cotter --- 1649, perhaps a shortened form of cotterel, a dial. word for "cotter pin or bolt, bracket to hang a pot over a fire" (1570), itself of uncertain origin.

cotton (n.) --- 1286, from O.Fr. coton, ult. (via Prov., It., or O.Sp.) from Ar. qutn, perhaps of Egyptian origin. Philip Miller of the Chelsea Physic Garden sent the first cotton seeds to American colony of Georgia in 1732. Cotton-picking was first recorded in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, but the noun meaning "contemptible person" dates to around 1919, probably with racist overtones that have faded over the years. The Cottonian library in the British Museum is from Sir Robert Bruce Cotton (1570-1631).

cotton (v.) --- to get on with (usually with to), 1567, perhaps from Welsh cytuno "consent, agree." But perhaps also a metaphor from cloth finishing and thus from cotton (n.).

couch (n.) --- 1340, from O.Fr. couche "a bed, lair," from coucher "to lie down," from L. collocare (see couch (v.)). Traditionally, a couch has the head end only raised, and only half a back; a sofa has both ends raised and a full back; a settee is like a sofa but may be without arms; an ottoman has neither back nor arms, nor has a divan, the distinctive feature of which is that it goes against a wall. Couch potato first recorded 1979. The first element in Couch-grass (1578) is a corruption of O.E. cwice (see quick).

couch (v.) --- c.1330, from O.Fr. colchier, from L. collocare "to lay," from com- "together" + locare "to place." Meaning "to put into words" is from 1529. Heraldic couchant is 1496, from Fr. prp.

cougar --- 1774, from Fr. couguar, Buffon's adaption of a word from Port. picked up in Brazil as çuçuarana, perhaps from Tupi susuarana, from suasu "deer" + rana "false." Another proposed source is Guarani guaçu ara.

cough --- c.1325, coughen, probably in O.E., but not recorded, from P.Gmc. *kokh- (with the rough "kh" of Mod. German, or of Scottish loch). Onomatopoeic.

could --- O.E. cuðe, pt. of cunnan "to be able" (see can (v.)); ending changed 14c. to standard Eng. -d(e). The -l- was added 16c. on model of would, should, where it is historic.

coulee --- deep ravine, seasonally flooded, 1807, a N.Amer. word, originally in areas explored by Fr. trappers, from Fr. coulée "flow," from couler "to flow."

coulomb --- 1881, named for Charles de Coulomb (1736-1806), who devised a method of measuring electrical quantity. It is the quantity of electricity conveyed in 1 second by a current of 1 ampere.

council --- c.1123, from Anglo-Norm. cuncile, from O.N.Fr. concilie, from L. concilium "group of people, meeting," from com- "together" + calare "to call" (see calendar). Tendency to confuse it in form and meaning with counsel has been consistent since 16c.

counsel (n.) --- c.1225, from O.Fr. counseil, from L. consilium "plan, opinion" (see consultation). As a synonym for "lawyer," first attested late 14c. Counseling "giving professional advice on social or psychological problems" dates from 1940.

count (n.) --- title of nobility, 1258, from O.Fr. conte, from L. comitem (nom. comes) "companion, attendant," the Roman term for a provincial governor, from com- "with" + ire "go." The Anglo-Norm. term was used to render O.E. eorl, but the word was never truly naturalized and was mainly used with reference to foreign titles.

count (v.) --- 1341, from O.Fr. conter "add up," but also "tell a story," from L. computare (see compute). Countdown is 1953, Amer.Eng.

countenance --- c.1250, from O.Fr. "demeanor, bearing, conduct," from L. continentia "restraint," lit. "way one contains oneself," from continere (see contain). Meaning evolving M.E. from "appearance" to "facial expression betraying a state of mind," to "face" itself (1393). The verb "to favor, patronize" is from 1568, from notion of "to look upon with sanction or smiles."

counter- --- from L. contra "opposite, contrary to, against" (see contra).

counter (n.) --- 1345, "table where a money lender does business," from O.Fr. contouer "counting room, table of a bank," from M.L. computatorium "place of accounts," from L. computare (see compute). Generalized 19c. from banks to shops, then extended to display cases for goods. Phrase under the counter is from 1926.

counter (v.) --- go against, 1330, from O.Fr. countre "facing opposite."

counteract --- 1678, from counter- + act (q.v.).

counter-attack --- 1916, from counter- + attack (q.v.). A word from World War I.

counter-clockwise --- 1888, from counter- + clockwise (see clock).

counter-culture --- 1970, from counter- + culture (q.v.).

counterfeit (v.) --- 1292, from O.Fr. contrefait "imitated," pp. of contrefaire "imitate," from contre- "against" + faire "to make, to do" (from L. facere; see factitious). M.L. contrafactio meant "setting in opposition or contrast." The verb is from c.1290.

counter-intelligence --- 1940, from counter- + intelligence (q.v.).

countermand --- 1430, from M.Fr. contremander "reverse an order or command," from contre- "against" + mander, from L. mandare "to order" (see mandate).

counterpane --- outer covering of a bed, 1459, alteration of counterpoint (q.v.) on model of M.Fr. pan, L. pannus "cloth" (see pane).

counterpart --- 1451, originally countre part "duplicate of a legal document," from O.Fr. contrepartie, from contre "facing, opposite" + partie "copy of a person or thing," originally fem. pp. of partir "to divide" (see party).

counterpoint --- 1423, of stitching, from O.Fr. cuilte contrepointe "quilt stitched through and through," altered from coute pointe, from M.L. culcita puncta "quilted mattress," from L. culcita "cushion" + puncta, fem. pp. of pungere "to prick, stab." Of music, 1530, from M.Fr. contrepoint, from M.L. contrapunctum, from L. contra + puncta, with reference to the indication of musical notes by "pricking" with a pointed pen over or under the original melody on a manuscript.

counter-productive --- 1959, from counter- + productive (see produce).

counter-revolution --- 1791, from counter- + revolution (q.v.). First recorded in U.S. with ref. to American Revolution.

countess --- 1154, adopted in Anglo-Norm. for "the wife of an earl," from M.L. cometissa, fem. of L. comes "count" (see count (n.)).

country --- 1234, from O.Fr. cuntree, from V.L. *(terra) contrata "(land) lying opposite," or "(land) spread before one," from L. contra "opposite, against" (see contra). To Eng. as "district," narrowed 1526 to rural areas, as opposed to cities. Replaced O.E. land. First record of countryside is 1621. Countrified is from 1653. First record of country-and-western music style is from 1959. Country club first recorded 1894.

county --- 1292, from Anglo-Norm. counte, from L.L. comitatus "jurisdiction of a count," from L. comes (see count (n.)); replaced O.E. scir "shire."

coup --- c.1400, from O.Fr. colp "to cut, strike," from M.L. colpus, from V.L. colapus, from L. colaphus "a cuff, box on the ear," from Gk. kolaphos "a blow, slap." Coup d'étate is 1646, from Fr., lit. "stroke of the state." Coup de grâce is 1699, lit. "stroke of grace."

coupe --- 1834, from Fr., originally pp. of couper "to cut (in half)" (see coup), from early 19c. carrosse coupe "cut-off carriage," a shorter version of the berlin, minus the back seat. First applied to closed two-door automobiles 1908.

couple --- c.1280, from O.Fr. cople "married couple, lovers," from L. copula "tie, connection," from PIE *ko-ap-, from *ko(m)- "together" + *ap- "to take, reach." Meaning broadened 14c. to "any two things." The verb is from c.1340. Poetic couplet, a dim. form, first attested 1580.

coupon --- 1822, "certificate of interest due on a bond" (which could be cut from the bond and presented for payment), from Fr. coupon, from O.Fr. coupon "piece cut off," from couper "to cut," from coup "a blow." Meaning widened to "discount ticket" 1860s by British travel agent Thomas Cook. The specific advertising sense is from 1906.

courage --- c.1300, from O.Fr. corage, from V.L. *coraticum, from L. cor "heart," which remains a common metaphor for inner strength. In M.E., used broadly for "what is in one's mind or thoughts," hence "bravery," but also "wrath, pride, confidence, lustiness," or any sort of inclination. Replaced O.E. ellen, which also meant "zeal, strength."

courant --- newspaper (now only in names of newspapers), from Fr., lit. "running," pres. part. of courir "to run."

courier --- c.1382, from Anglo-Fr. courrier, from O.Fr. coreor, ult. from L. currere "to run" (see current).

course --- c.1290, from O.Fr. cours, from L. cursus "a running race or course," from curs- pp. stem of currere "to run" (see current). Most extended senses (meals, etc.) are present in 14c. Academic meaning "planned series of study" is 1605 (in French from 14c.). The verb is from 16c.

court --- 1175, from O.Fr. curt, from L. cortem, acc. of cors (earlier cohors) "enclosed yard," and by extension (and perhaps by association with curia "sovereign's assembly"), "those assembled in the yard; company, cohort," from com- "together" + stem hort- related to hortus "garden, plot of ground" (see yard (1)). The verb meaning "woo, offer homage" (as at court) is first recorded 1580. Sporting sense is from 1519, originally of tennis. Legal meaning is from 1292 (early assemblies for justice were overseen by the sovereign personally); courthouse is from 1483. Court-martial is first attested 1571; as a verb, 1859. Courtier is from 1228; courtly "having manners befitting a court" is from 1450. Courtship "paying court to a woman with intention of marriage" is from 1596.

courteous --- 1275, from O.Fr. curteis "having courtly bearing or manners," from curt "court" + -eis, from L. -ensis. In feudal society, also denoting a man of good education (hence the name Curtis). Medieval courts were associated with good behavior and also beauty; e.g. Ger. hübsch "beautiful," from M.H.G. hübesch "beautiful," orig. "courteous, well-bred," from O.Franconian hofesch, from hof "court."

courtesan --- 1549, from M.Fr. courtisane, from It. cortigiana "prostitute," lit. "woman of the court," fem. of cortigiano "one attached to a court," from corte "court," from L. cortem (see court).

courtesy --- c.1225, from O.Fr. curtesie, from curteis "courteous," from curt "court" (see court). A specialized sense of curtesie is the source of Eng. curtsy.

couscous --- 1600, from Fr., ult. from Ar. kuskus, from kaskasa "to pound, he pounded."

cousin --- 1160, from O.Fr. cosin, from L. consobrinus "mother's sister's child," from com- "together" + sobrinus (earlier *sosrinos) "cousin on mother's side," from soror (gen. sororis) "sister." Used familiarly as a term of address since 1430, especially in Cornwall. Your first cousin (also cousin-german) is the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt; your children and your first cousin's are second cousins to one another; to you, your first cousin's children are first cousin once removed. Phrase kissing cousin is Southern U.S. expression, 1940s, denoting "those close enough to be kissed in salutation;" Kentish cousin (1796) is an old British term for "distant relative."

couth --- O.E. cuðe "known," pp. of cunnan (see can (v.)) died out as such 16c., but the word was reborn 1896, with a new sense of "cultured, refined," as a back-formation from uncouth (q.v.). The O.E. word forms the first element in the man's proper name Cuthbert, lit. "famous-bright."

couture --- 1908, from Fr., lit. "dressmaking, sewing," used as a collective term for "women's fashion designers."

cove --- O.E. cofa "small chamber, cell," from P.Gmc. *kubon. Extension of meaning to "small bay" is 1590, apparently via Scot. dialectal meaning "small hollow place in coastal rocks" (c.950).

coven --- a gathering of witches, 1662, earlier (c.1500) a variant of covent, cuvent early forms of convent (q.v.). Association with witches arose in Scotland, but not popularized until Sir Walter Scott used it in this sense in "Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft" (1830). "Ther vold meit bot sometymes a Coven .... Ther is threttein persones in ilk Coeven." [Crim. Trials Scot. III 606, 1662]

covenant --- 1297, from O.Fr. covenant "agreement," originally prp. of covenir "agree, meet," from L. convenire "come together" (see convene). Applied in Scripture to God's arrangements with man, as a translation of L. testamentum, Gk. diatheke, both rendering Heb. berith (though testament is also used for the same word in different places). Covenanter (1638), especially used of Scottish Presbyterians who signed the Solemn League and Covenant (1643) for the defense and furtherance of their cause.

cover --- c.1150, from O.Fr. covrir, from L.L. coperire, from L. cooperire "to cover over," from com- intens. prefix + operire "to close, cover" (see weir). Military sense is from 1687; newspaper sense first recorded 1893; use in football dates from 1907. Betting sense is 1857. As a euphemism for "copulation of horses" it dates from 1535. Meaning "recording of a song already recorded by another" is 1966. Cover-up is from 1927. Cover girl is U.S. slang from 1915, shortening of magazine-cover girl.

coverlet --- 1381, perhaps a dim. of cover (n.), but early form coverlite suggests an unrecorded O.Fr. *covre-lit, from covrir "to cover" + lit "bed" (see litter).

covert --- c.1303, from O.Fr. covert, pp. of covrir "to cover" (see cover).

covet --- c.1225, from O.Fr. coveitier, probably ult. from L. cupiditas "passionate desire," from cupidus "very desirous," from cupere "long for, desire."

cow (n.) --- O.E. cu, from P.Gmc. *kwon, earlier *kwom, from PIE *gwous (cf. Skt. gaus, Gk. bous, L. bov-), perhaps ult. imitative of lowing (cf. Sumerian gu, Chinese ngu, ngo "ox"). In Gmc., of females only; in other languages, of either gender. Cowhand is first attested 1852 in Amer.Eng.; cowboy is from 1725, originally "a boy who tends cows;" Western U.S. sense from 1849, as an adj. meaning "reckless," 1920s; cowlick is from 1598. Cowpoke (1881) was originally restricted to the cowboys who prodded cattle onto railroad cars with long poles.

cow (v.) --- 1605, probably from O.N. kuga "oppress," of unknown origin, but perhaps having something to do with cow (n.) on the notion of easily herded.

cowabunga --- 1954, Amer.Eng., from exclamation of surprise and anger by Chief Thunderthud in "The Howdy Doody Show," 1950s children's TV show; used by surfers 1960s as a shout of triumph, and spread worldwide 1990 by use in the TV cartoon "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."

coward --- c.1225, from O.Fr. coart, from coe "tail," from L. coda, dialectal variant of cauda "tail," of uncertain origin + -ard, an agent noun suffix (denoting "one who does"). The word probably reflects an animal metaphoric sense still found in expressions like turning tail and tail between legs. Coart was the name of the hare in O.Fr. versions of "Reynard the Fox." As a surname (attested from 1255) it represents O.E. cuhyrde "cow-herd." "Cowardice, as distinguished from panic, is almost always simply a lack of ability to suspend the functioning of the imagination." [Ernest Hemingway, "Men at War," 1942] An O.E. word for "cowardly" was earg, which also meant "slothful."

cower --- c.1300, probably from M.L.G. *kuren "lie in wait," or similar Scand. words meaning "to squat" and "to doze." Thus unrelated to coward.

cowl --- O.E. cule, from earlier cugele, from L.L. cuculla "monk's cowl," var. of L. cucullus "hood," of uncertain origin.

cowrie --- 1662, from Hindi and Urdu kauri, from Mahrati kavadi, from Skt. kaparda, perhaps related to Tamil kotu "shell."

cowslip --- O.E. cu-slyppe, apparently from cu "cow" + slyppe "slop, slobber, dung."

coxcomb --- 1573, from cokkes comb (c.1400), so called because a fool's cap resembled the comb of a cock.

coxswain --- 1327, from cock "ship's boat" (from O.Fr. coque "canoe") + swain "boy," from O.N. sveinn "boy, servant."

coy --- c.1330, from O.Fr. coi, earlier quei "quiet, still," ult. from L. quietus "resting, at rest" (see quiet). Meaning "shy" emerged 14c. Meaning "unwilling to commit" is 1961.

coyote --- 1759, Amer.Eng., from Mexican Sp., from Nahuatl coyotl.

cozen --- 1561, perhaps from Fr. cousiner "cheat on pretext of being a cousin;" or from M.E. cosyn "fraud, trickery" (1453), perhaps related to O.Fr. coçon "dealer," from L. cocionem "horse dealer."

cozy --- 1709, colsie, Scottish dialect, perhaps of Scand. origin (cf. Norw. kose seg "be cozy"). In Britain, usually cosy.

crab --- O.E. crabba, from a general Gmc. root (cf. Low Ger. krabben "to scratch, claw"). The constellation name is attested in Eng. from c.1000; the Crab Nebula (1868), however, is in Taurus, and is so called for its shape. Crab "fruit of the wild apple tree" (c.1420) may be from unrelated Scand. scrab, of obscure origin. The combination of "bad-tempered, combative" and "sour" in the two words naturally yielded a meaning of "complain irritably," which is pre-1400, though crabby in this sense is Amer.Eng. 18c. Crabgrass is 1597, originally a marine grass of salt marshes; modern meaning is from 1743.

crack --- O.E. cracian "make a sharp noise," from P.Gmc. *krakojan, probably onomatopoeic. The noun meaning "split, opening," is 14c. Meaning "try, attempt" first attested 1836, probably a hunting metaphor, from slang sense of "fire a gun." Meaning "rock cocaine" is first attested 1985. Cracked "mentally unsound" is 17c. (though the equivalent Gk. word was used in this sense by Aristophanes), while crack as in "top-notch, superior" is slang from 1793. Crackpot "pretentious, worthless person" dates from 1883. The superstition that it is bad luck to step on sidewalk cracks has been traced to c.1890.

cracker --- 1440, "hard wafer," but the specific application to a thin, crisp biscuit is 1739. Cracker-barrel (adj.) "emblematic of down-home ways and views" is from 1877. Cracker, Southern U.S. derogatory term for "poor, white trash" (1766), is from c.1450 crack "to boast" (e.g. not what it's cracked up to be), originally a Scottish word. Especially of Georgians by 1808, though often extended to residents of northern Florida. "I should explain to your Lordship what is meant by crackers; a name they have got from being great boasters; they are a lawless set of rascalls on the frontiers of Virginia, Maryland, the Carolinas and Georgia, who often change their places of abode." [1766, G. Cochrane]

cracker-jack --- something excellent, 1895, U.S. colloquialism, apparently a fanciful construction. The caramel-coated popcorn confection was introduced by F.W. Rueckheim at the World's Columbian Exposition (1893). Louis Rueckheim, F.W.'s brother and partner, discovered the process. Supposedly a salesman gave it the name, when he tasted some and said, "That's a cracker-jack." The name was trademarked 1896. The "Prize in Every Box" was introduced 1912.

crackle (v.) --- c.1560, crackelen, frequentative of cracken "to crack." The noun is recorded from 1833.

-cracy --- from M.L. -cratia, from Gk. -kratia "power, rule," from kratos "strength," from PIE *kratus "power, strength" (see hard). The connective -o- has come to be viewed as part of it.

cradle --- O.E. cradol "little bed," from P.Gmc. *kradulas "basket." Cat's cradle is from 1768. Cradle-snatching "amorous pursuit of younger person" is 1925, U.S. slang.

craft --- O.E. cræft "power, strength, might," from P.Gmc. *krab-/*kraf-. Sense shifted to "skill, art" (via a notion of "mental power"), which led to the n. meaning of "trade." Use for "small boat" is first recorded 1671, probably from some nautical sense of "vessels of small craft," referring either to the trade they did or the seamanship they required.

crafty --- O.E. cræftig "strong, powerful," later "skillful," degenerating by c.1205 to "cunning, sly."

crag --- c.1300, probably from a Celtic source akin to O.Ir. crec "rock," and carrac "cliff," and Manx creg.

cram --- O.E. crammian "press something into something else," from P.Gmc. base *kram-/*krem-. Meaning "study intensely for an exam" is British student slang first recorded 1803.

cramp (n.) --- muscle contraction, 1374, from O.Fr. crampe, from a Frank. word (cf. O.H.G. krapmhe "cramp, spasm," related to kramph "bent, crooked"). The same P.Gmc. root yielded M.Du. crampe, M.L.G. krampe, one of which gave Eng. cramp "a metal bar bent at both ends" (1503), which yielded a metaphoric sense (first recorded 1719) of "something that confines or hinders." Writer's cramp is first attested 1853.

cranberry --- 1647, Amer.Eng. adaptation of Low Ger. kraanbere, from kraan "crane" + M.L.G. bere "berry," perhaps from a resemblance between the plants' stamens and the beaks of cranes. Ger. and Du. settlers in the New World apparently recognized the similarity between the European berries (Vaccinium oxycoccos) and the larger N.Amer. variety (V. macrocarpum) and transferred the name. In England, they were marshwhort or fenberries, but the N.Amer. berries, and the name, were brought over late 17c. The native Algonquian name for the plant is represented by W.Abenai popokwa.

crane --- O.E. cran "large wading bird," from PIE *ger- (cf. Gk. geranos, Welsh garan, Lith. garnys "heron, stork"), perhaps echoic of its cry. Metaphoric use for "machine with a long arm" is first attested 1299. Verb meaning "to stretch (the neck)" is from 1799.

cranium --- 1543, from M.L. cranium, from Gk. kranion "skull," related to kara "head." Strictly, the bones which enclose the brain.

crank --- O.E. cranc- preserved only in crancstæf "a weaver's instrument," from P.Gmc. base *krank-, and related to crincan "to bend, yield." Eng. retains the literal sense of the ancient root, while Ger. and Du. krank "sick," formerly "weak, small," is a figurative use. The sense of "an eccentric person," especially one who is irrationally fixated, is first recorded 1833, said to be from the crank of a barrel organ, which makes it play the same tune over and over, but more likely a back-formation from cranky "cross-tempered, irritable" (1821), and evolving from earlier senses of "a twist or fanciful turn of speech" (1594) or "inaccessible hole or crevice" (1562). Popularized 1881 when it was applied to Horace Greeley during Guiteau's trial. The verb meaning "turning a crank" is first attested 1908, with reference to automobile engines.