cock-horse, n. and adv.
(ˈkɒkˈhɔːs)
[It is not clear whether ‘cock-horse’ was originally the name of a plaything, as it appears to have been by 1577, or whether the phrase ‘on (a-)cock-horse’ merely meant in a position (as e.g. on the knee) which was likened to that of being on horseback. The transferred sense evidently referred to the elation of a child in such a position.]
A. n.
1. orig. Apparently a nursery term, applied to anything a child rides astride upon, as a stick with a horse's head, a hobby-horse, any one's leg or knee. Hence ride on a (or a-) cockhorse.
| 1540–1 Elyot Image Gov. 96 The dotyng pleasure to see my littell soonne ride on a cokhorse. 1577 Harrison England iii. ix. (1878) ii. 64 We oft exchange our finest cloth, corne, tin, and woolles, for halfe penie cockhorsses for children. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. ii. ii. vi. iv, Sometimes he would ride a cockhorse with his children..though Alcibiades scoffed at him for it. a 1654 Selden Table-t. (Arb.) 96 When you would have a Child go to such a place, and you find him unwilling, you tell him he shall ride a Cock-horse. 1675 Cotton Poet. Wks. (1765) 218, I, astride a Cock⁓horse. 1861 Sala Dutch Pict. ix. 135 That large man..whose knees comprise such an inexhaustible supply of cock-horses. 1863 Ld. Lytton Ring Amasis I. i. ii. i. 83 When I was only able—equitare in arundine longa—to ride a-cockhorse on a stick. Nursery Rime, ‘Ride a cock-horse To Banbury Cross.’ |
2. transf. a. a-cock-horse, on (a) cock-horse; mounted (as on a horse); astride.
| 1564–78 W. Bullein Dial. agst. Pest. (1888) 66 The Drake with all the water foules did stoupe lowe and receiue their carriage, and when they were all a cockehorse together they wente into the water. 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. iii. xvi. 51 They..passe so farre in so little a space on cock-horsse [on broomsticks]. 1622 R. Hawkins Voy. S. Sea 76 The whale..swimmeth presently ashore, and the Indian a cock-horse upon him. 1660 Charac. Italy 7 His Petrified Sanctity riding a Cock-horse on mens shoulders. 1664 Butler Hud. ii. iii. 41 And Ralpho got a cock-horse too Upon his Beast with much ado. 1821 Combe (Dr. Syntax) Wife iii. (Chandos) 329 Riding a cock-horse on a star. |
† b. Mounted aloft, perched up.
| 1704 Gentleman Instr. (1732) 167 (D.) The ladies sit on cockhorse upon scaffolds in open view. |
† 3. fig. An exalted position, a place of triumph or ascendancy. Usually with on, a-. Obs.
| 1581 Mulcaster Positions xxxvi. (1887) 138 He that beareth a tankarde by meanesse of degree, and was borne for a cokhorse by sharpenes of witte. 1599 Marston Sco. Villanie i. Sat. iii. 185 Hath got the farme of some gelt Vicary, And now on cock-horse gallops iollily. 1611 Cotgr., Il est à cheval, hee is set on cocke-horse; hee is all a hoight, hee now begins to flaunt it. 1658 T. Wall God's Rev. Enemies Ch. 41 There is no tyrannie like to that of a slave, whom vilany hath set a cock-horse. 1683 E. Hooker Pref. Pordage's Myst. Div. 22 Welth that rideth up a-Cock-hors (pass by the term) while Worth holdeth but the stirrup. 1829 Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) I. 10 The outbreak of an oppressed party, and setting it a-cock-horse on the oppressing one. |
4. fig. A high horse; a proud, high-spirited horse; a stallion.
| 1599 Marston Sco. Villanie i. Sat. iii. 185 Cock-horse, fat-pauncht Milo. 1858 R. S. Surtees Ask Mamma xxxviii. 160 He now goes drooping and slouching away, very unlike the cock-horse he came out. |
† 5. to play at cock-horse: see quot. Obs.
| 1648 Hexham Dutch Dict. (1660), Paerdeken op spelen, to Play at Cock-horse, or leape ouer one an others backes. |
6. An additional horse for helping a coach uphill.
| 1891 Field 25 July 134/1 With no further use for the cock horse, we cast him off at the top of the hill. 1909 Daily Chron. 7 June 6/3 The Venture Challenge Cup attracted eleven road teams... One, with an attendant cock horse, [etc.]. 1928 Times 3 Sept. 16 The Old Berkeley passing the Five Alls on Dashwood Hill, with a pair of cock-horses to help the team over the Chilterns. 1963 Bloodgood & Santini Horseman's Dict. 50 Cock-horse, extra horse attached in the lead of a four-in-hand when going up hill. |
B. adv. In same sense as the phrases on a cock-horse, a-cock-horse, in A. 1, 2.
| 1566 Drant Horace Sat. iii. G v, To playe at even and odde to ryde cockhorse in chyldyshe guyse. c 1720 Prior Alma i. 30 Alma, they strenuously maintain, Sits cock⁓horse on her throne, the brain. a 1764 Lloyd Fam. Ep. Poet. Wks. 1774 II. 60 As boys ride cock-horse on a broom. 1878 Gen. R. Taylor in N. Amer. Rev. CXXVI. 259 A huge fellow..was riding ‘cock-horse’ on a gun. |