Cockney Definition

käknē

cockneys

noun

A person born in the East End of London, England, traditionally one born within the sound of “Bow Bells” (i.e., the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow) and speaking a characteristic dialect.

Webster's New World

Any person born or living in London.

Webster's New World

This dialect, characterized by extreme diphthongization, loss of the initial (h) sound, and use of an intrusive (r)

Webster's New World

The accent and speech mannerisms of these people.

Wiktionary

Shakespeare.

This great lubber, the world, will prove a cockney.

Wiktionary

pronoun

Any native of London who was born within the sound of Bow Bells, St Mary-le-Bow church Cheapside, in the City of London.

Wiktionary

adjective

Of or like cockneys or their dialect.

Webster's New World

From the East End of London.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Cockney

Noun

Singular:

cockney

Plural:

cockneys

Origin of Cockney

Middle English cokenei cock's egg, pampered child, city dweller coken cock (possibly blend of cok cock¹) (and chiken chicken chicken) ei egg (from Old English ǣg awi- in Indo-European roots)

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition