Counter, to hit back, to exchange blows. A cross COUNTER is a blow with the right hand given in exchange for one with the left, the counterer preferring to strike rather than to “stop” the blow.—Pugilistic.
Counter-jumper, a shopman, a draper’s assistant.
Country-captain, a spatch-cocked fowl, sprinkled with curry-powder. A favourite breakfast dish with the captains of country-ships.—Indian.
Country-ship, a ship belonging to the East Indies, and trading from port to port in that country.
County-crop (i.e., COUNTY-PRISON CROP), haircut close and round, as if guided by a basin—an indication of having been in prison. Since short hair has become fashionable the expression has fallen somewhat into disuse. In the times when long hair was worn, a man with his hair cut as described was said to have had it done with a knife and fork.
Couple-beggar, a degraded person, who officiated as a clergyman in performing marriages in the Fleet Prison.
Couter, a sovereign. Half-a-couter, half-a-sovereign. From the Danubian-gipsy word CUTA, a gold coin.
Cove, or COVEY, a boy or man of any age or station. A term generally preceded by an expressive adjective, thus a “flash COVE,” a “rum COVE,” a “downy COVE,” &c. The feminine, COVESS, was once popular, but it has fallen into disuse. Originally ancient cant (temp. Henry VII.), COFE, or CUFFIN, altered in Decker’s time to COVE. See Witts’ Recreations, 1654: “there’s a gentry-COVE here,” i.e., a gentleman. Probably connected with CUIF, which, in the North of England, signifies a lout or awkward fellow. Amongst Negroes, CUFFEE.
Coventry, “to send a man to COVENTRY,” not to speak to or notice him. Coventry was one of those towns in which the privilege of practising most trades was anciently confined to certain privileged persons, as the freemen, &c. Hence a stranger stood little chance of custom, or countenance, and “to send a man to COVENTRY” came to be equivalent to putting him out of the pale of society.