cockney
UK[ˈkɒkni]US[ˈkɑːkni]
n
A native of East London, traditionally one born within the sound of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow church.
n
The dialect or accent typical of such a person.
Etymology
The term 'cockney' has a fascinating journey from a term of contempt to a marker of identity. It originated in Middle English as 'cokeney', literally meaning "cock's egg"—a small or misshapen egg, which was used figuratively to denote a pampered child or a milksop. By the 17th century, it became a derogatory term used by rural people for town-dwellers, specifically those from London who were considered weak or affected. Eventually, Londoners themselves adopted and redefined the term, narrowing its reference to the distinctive dialect and culture of those born in the East End, within earshot of the Bow Bells, thus transforming an insult into a badge of local pride.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword. Its components are not productively separable in modern English spelling.
Examples
He spoke with a broad Cockney accent.
The play features a true Cockney born within the sound of Bow Bells.
Cockney rhyming slang can be puzzling to outsiders.