Convey, to steal; “CONVEY, the wise it call.”
Conveyancer, a pickpocket. Shakspeare uses the cant expression CONVEYER, a thief. The same term is also French slang.
Cooey, the Australian bush-call, now not unfrequently heard in the streets of London.
Cook, a term well known in the Bankruptcy Courts, in reference to accounts that have been meddled with, or COOKED, by the bankrupt; also to form a balance-sheet from general trade inferences; stated by a correspondent to have been first used in reference to the celebrated alteration of the accounts of the Eastern Counties Railway, by George Hudson, the Railway King. Any unfair statements of accounts or reports are now said to be COOKED.
Cook, in artistic circles, to dodge up a picture. Artists say that a picture will not COOK when it is excellent and unconventional, and beyond specious imitation.
Cook one’s goose, to kill or ruin a person.—North.
Cooler, a glass of porter as a wind up, after drinking spirits and water. This form of drinking is sometimes called “putting the beggar on the gentleman.”
Coolie, a soldier, in allusion to the Hindoo COOLIES, or day labourers.
Coon, abbreviation of racoon.—American. A GONE COON—ditto, one in an awful fix, past praying for. This expression is said to have originated in the first American war with a spy, who dressed himself in a racoon skin, and ensconced himself in a tree. An English rifleman taking him for a veritable coon, levelled his piece at him, upon which he exclaimed, “Don’t shoot, I’ll come down of myself, I know I’m a GONE COON.” The Yankees say the Britisher was so “flummuxed,” that he flung down his rifle and “made tracks” for home. The phrase is pretty general in England. [There is one difficulty about this story—How big was the man who dressed himself in a racoon skin?]