Corn in Egypt, a popular expression which means a plentiful supply of materials for a dinner, &c., or a good supply of money. Its origin is of course Biblical.
Corporation, the protuberant front of an obese person. Probably from the old announcements which used to be made, and are made now in some towns where improvements are made by the municipal authorities, “Widened at the expense of the CORPORATION.”
Corpse, to stick fast in the dialogue; to confuse, or put out the actors by making a mistake.—Theatrical.
Cosh, a neddy, a life-preserver; any short, loaded bludgeon.
Cossack, a policeman.
Costard, the head. A very old word, generally used in connexion with “cracked.”
Coster, the short and slang rendering of “costermonger,” or “costardmonger,” who was originally an apple-seller. Costering, i.e., costermongering, acting as a costermonger would.
Costermonger, a street seller of fish, fruit, vegetables, poultry, &c. The London costermongers number more than 30,000. They form a distinct class, occupying whole neighbourhoods, and were at one time cut off from the rest of metropolitan society by their low habits, general improvidence, pugnacity, love of gambling, total want of education, disregard for lawful marriage ceremonies, and their use of a peculiar slang language. They have changed a good deal of this, though, now. Costermonger aliter COSTARDMONGER, i.e., an apple-seller. In Nares’s Glossary (Ed. H. & W.) they are said to have been frequently Irish. So, Ben Jonson—
“Her father was an Irish COSTAR-MONGER.”