Coast (H. VIII. iii. 2), to proceed cautiously, keeping, as it were, along the shore, a figure taken from navigation. The Italian piaggiare is used in the same manner. So hedge in this same passage is figurative—keeping, as it were, inside of the hedge.
Cock-a-hoop. "You will set cock-a-hoop!" (R. and J. i. 5). By this some understand taking the cock out of the barrel, and letting the liquor run to waste. Nares quotes
"The cock on hoop is set
Hoping to drink their lordships out of debt."
But perhaps the original expression may have been Cock on heap, i.e. on his dunghill, boastful and triumphant.
Cock-shut (R. III. v. 3), a large net stretched across a glade in a wood, in order to catch woodcocks when flying in the twilight, thence called "cock-shut time."
Codpiece, a cod (i.e. pouch or pocket) set in the front of the hose. It seems to have answered to the present breeches-pockets.
Colours. "Fear no colours" (Tw. N. i. 5) would seem to have been a military expression, denoting no fear of any banners, i.e. troops or enemies.
Concolinel (L. L. L. iii. 1), the commencement of a song, usually supposed to be Italian. But there is nothing like it in that language. It was mooted in Notes and Queries if it were not rather Irish, like so many other airs at that time; and among the conjectures given, the best was by "Eirionnach" that it may have been Can colleen yal (Cán cailín ʒeal). 'Sing, fair girl.' But no such song is known.
Condition (Tim. i. 1), art, profession, as in French.