cock-sure, a. (adv.)
(kɒkˈʃʊə(r))
[According to the regular force of similar formations, e.g. stone-deaf, clay-cold, dog-sick, dirt-cheap, coal-black, etc., the sense ought to be ‘as sure as a cock’. The conjecture that there is some allusion to cockish, cocky, with reference to ‘pert self-confidence’, being founded upon the latest sense, which is only a modern development, is not historically tenable. The word was originally perfectly dignified, and habitually used in the most solemn connexions. And, in early use, the sureness in question was objective, i.e. ‘as secure, safe, certain, trustworthy, reliable, etc., as can be’: this makes it possible that the original reference may have been to the security or certainty of the action of a cock or tap in preventing the escape of liquor, or perhaps of a cock with a removable turning-key (if these go far enough back) in leaving the contents of a tun secure from interference.
The notion ‘as sure as a cock is to crow in the morning’, has also been suggested. It might suit sense 2, but not sense 1.]
A. adj. I. Of objective sureness, security, or certainty.
† 1. Absolutely secure, or safe, from danger or interference. a. of persons or things. Obs.
| 1522 Skelton Why nat to Court 279 Whyle the red hat doth endure He maketh hymself cock sure. 1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1596) 660/2 Queene Margaret thought her then cockesure, when duke Humfrey was made away. Ibid. (1684) III. 273 Whoso dwelleth under that secret thing, and help of the Lord, shall be cock-sure for evermore. 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. I. 23/2 The princes court would not haue beene kept there, vnlesse the place had beene taken to be cocksure. 1583 Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 36 Thou seest al cocksure, thy fleete, thy coompanie salued. 1662 H. Foulis Hist. Wicked Plots (1674) 100 All such persons as shall be nominated..shall be cock-sure in their Authority. |
† b. of measures, plans, arrangements. Obs.
| 1538 Latimer Let. Cromwell in Rem. (1845) 398 We..as good simple souls, made all cocksure. 1549 ― Ploughers (Arb.) 32 When he [the Deuyll] had once broughte Christe to the crosse, he thought all cocke sure. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xxiv. (1632) 1174 The Canonist conceiuing that all was Cocke-sure, hasted to execute his Commission. 1670 Brooks Wks. (1867) VI. 134 When they think that they have made all cock-sure, then ruin and desolation lies at their door. |
† 2. Absolutely certain or to be depended on: a. as true, trustworthy, reliable.
| c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (1878) 169 When he cometh to the matter, he maketh it so cocksure that he esteemeth there be few articles of our faith which be approved by more authorities. 1591 Harington Orl. Fur. xliii. xxxi. (R.), Not that my deare wife I ought misdeem'd, For her of all the rest I thought cocksure. 1603 Harsnet Pop. Impost. 49 An admirable new way to make the Devil true and Cock-sure of his word. 1637 Heywood Royall King i. Wks. 1874 VI. 15 And as I am true Cocke, so will I..be cocke sure in any imployment whatsoever. |
b. as of certain issue, sure to be gained or obtained, sure to be ours though not yet possessed.
| 1548 Udall Erasm. Par. Pref. 17 a, The same was a cockesuer waie. 1580 North Plutarch (1676) 441 Triarius..made haste to win the victory, as if it had been cock-sure before Lucullus came. 1668 Dryden Sir Martin Mar-all iv. i, Nothing vexes me, but that I had made my game cock-sure, and then to be back-gammoned. a 1734 North Exam. ii. iv. §17 (1740) 241 To make the Event cock sure. 1742 Jarvis Quix. i. iv. xxxv. (1885) 204 My earldom is cock-sure! |
c. Of persons, etc.: Absolutely certain to (do something) or of (a possession yet in prospect):
After think, etc., this naturally introduces the subjective uses in 4: one who thinks himself (objectively) cocksure of a coming advantage, feels or, in modern use, is (subjectively) cocksure of it.
| 1520 Whittinton Vulg. (1525) 17, I haue knowen a man or nowe that thought him selfe cocke sure of his intent. 1687 T. K. Veritas Evang. 89 They esteem themselves to be the Elect of God; and to be Cock-sure of Salvation. 1714–21 Pope Let. Earl Burlington (1737) 19, I thought myself cocksure of his horse which he readily promised me. 1848 Clough Bothie 131 Confound it, no, not Hewson, Ain't he cocksure to bring in his eternal political humbug? |
II. Of subjective sureness.
† 3. Feeling perfectly secure, or out of danger (cf. 1). Obs.
| a 1667 Wither Presumption, Through the great blessing of these quiet years, We are so fearless, careless and secure In this our happy peace, and so cock-sure. |
4. Feeling perfectly certain, absolutely certain in one's own mind of or about anything. (Without any implication of over-sureness or presumption.)
(Quot. 1603 is doubtful; it may belong to 2 c.)
| [1603 Harsnet Pop. Impost. 131 Therefore you may be Cock-sure to finde him there.] 1672 Wycherley Love in Wood ii. i, You are so positively cock-sure of your wit, you wou'd refer to a mere stranger your plea to the Bay-tree. 1835 Marryat Jac. Faithf. xiii, ‘I do believe that—I'm drunk.’ ‘And I'm cock sure of it’, cried Tom. 1842 S. Lover Handy Andy vi, ‘Are you sure?’ said his mother. ‘Cock sure!’ said Andy. 1870– in Gloss. Berkshire, Cheshire, Holderness, etc., Cock-sure, perfectly certain, positive. |
5. Feeling or expressing oneself sure to a degree that savours of presumption or dogmatism; dogmatically self-confident; ‘cocky’ in one's confidence.
| 1755 [Johnson's only meaning is ‘Confidently certain; without fear or diffidence. A word of contempt.’ Although none of his quotations bear out this character, it is evident that the modern sense must have been coming in then.] a 1845 Barham Ingol. Leg., Aunt Fanny, Don't be too secure! Let seeming success never make you ‘Cock-sure’! 1859 Darwin in Life & Lett. (1887) II. 224, That I have written in a conceited and cocksure style. 1861 Times 23 Aug., Mr. Buckle..has fallen head over heels into the most abominable pitfall ever invented by a philosopher for the discomfiture of a cocksure historian. 1889 Spectator Nov. 30, It was Lord Melbourne..who said, ‘I wish I was as cock-sure of anything as Tom Macaulay is cock-sure of everything’. |
B. as adv. With perfect security or certainty.
| 1579 Fulke Heskins' Parl. 385 Hee is cocke sure of M. Heskins side. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, ii. i. 94 We steale as in a Castle, cocksure. 1621 Sanderson Serm. Rom. iii. 8 Wks. 1854 II. 47 Let them believe, it is no matter how they live, heaven is their own cock-sure. 1672 Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.) Rehearsal (1714) 44 Phoo, Pox! then you have it cock sure. |
Hence † cock-sure v., to make cock-sure of. cock-suredom, the state or habit of arrogant confidence in one's opinion. cocksureism = cocksureness. cock-surely adv., in a cock-sure manner. cock-surety = cocksureness.
| 1685 F. Spence House of Medici 263 They cock-sured him of a cap at the first promotion. 1883 Spectator 5 May 581 This critical cocksuredom would seem to be greatly on the increase. 1889 Parnell Sp. Liverpool 19 Oct., That magnificent cocksureism which Englishmen always exhibit when they are dealing with questions of which they have absolutely no knowledge whatever. 1887 Scot. Leader 17 Aug. 4 The bulk of the London press has been cock-surely wrong. 1887 Sat. Rev. 8 Jan. 49 Smug severity, self-sufficiency, cock-surety. |