Cooper, “stout half-and-half,” i.e., half stout and half porter. Derived from the coopers at breweries being allowed so much stout and so much porter a day, which they take mixed.
Cooper, to destroy, spoil, settle, or finish. Coopered, spoilt, “done up,” synonymous with the Americanism caved in, fallen in, ruined. The vagabonds’ hieroglyph
, chalked by them on gate posts and houses, signifies that the place has been spoilt by too many tramps calling there.
Cooper, to forge, or imitate in writing; “COOPER a monniker,” to forge a signature.
Cooter, “a sovereign.”—See [Couter]. Gipsy, CUTA.
Cop, to seize or lay hold of anything unpleasant; used in a similar sense to catch in the phrase “to COP (or catch) a beating.” “To get COPT,” is to be taken by the police. Probable contraction of Lat. capere.
Cop, beware, take care. A contraction of Coprador.—Anglo-Indian.
Coper, properly HORSE-COUPER, a Scotch horse-dealer,—used to denote a dishonest one. Coping, like jockeying, is suggestive of all kinds of trickery.
Copper, a policeman, i.e., one who [COPS], which see.