Talk:Cock Lane

I call bullshit regarding "it is from the brothels that the street derives its name". The earliest recorded usage of "cock" meaning penis dates from the 17th century, and the street existed long before. – iridescent 15:29, 18 April 2009 (UTC)

Cokkeslane according to passus 5 of Piers Plowman Parrot of Doom (talk) 22:15, 21 April 2009 (UTC)

I have to add that the Holt-Baker paper referenced in Gropecunt Lane does mention prostitution in Cock's Lane in the 14th century. Parrot of Doom (talk) 22:24, 21 April 2009 (UTC)

I've no doubt the street was called Cock Lane then; I completely dispute that any link with prostitution in the area was anything more than coincidental.

O.E. cocc, O.Fr. coq, O.N. kokkr, all of echoic origin. O.E. cocc was a nickname for "one who strutted like a cock," thus a common term in the Middle Ages for a pert boy, used of scullions, apprentices, servants, etc. A common personal name till c.1500, it was affixed to Christian names as a pet diminutive, cf. Wilcox, Hitchcock, etc. Slang sense of "penis" is attested since 1618 (but cf. pillicock "penis," from c.1300). Cock-teaser is from 1891. Cock-sucker is used curiously for aggressively obnoxious men; the ancients would have understood the difference between passive and active roles; Catullus, writing of his boss, employs the useful L. insult irrumator, which means "someone who forces others to give him oral sex," hence "one who treats people with contempt." Cocky "arrogantly pert" (1768) originally meant "lecherous" (16c.); modern sense of "vain" is 18c. — Online Etymology Dictionary

All kinds of interesting stuff on teh interwebs… Interestingly, it suggests it's cognate with "pillock", a connection I'd never have made. – iridescent 22:46, 21 April 2009 (UTC)

If coincidental I'd have to suggest making a note to that effect in the GC article, else the reader would probably infer the same thing as the editor in this article has. With the above reference you can certainly remove the line from this article. Parrot of Doom (talk) 22:56, 21 April 2009 (UTC)

Have done on this article – I haven't touched GCL as I don't know enough about the subject. (If I were guessing as to the origins of the name "Cock Lane", I'd very strongly suggest that the fact that it was – and still is – immediately adjacent to the largest meat market in the country would be a strong hint.) – iridescent 23:07, 21 April 2009 (UTC)

I added the relevant info to the GC article. I may have a go at the Cock Lane Ghost article next, it looks quite interesting. Parrot of Doom (talk) 23:33, 21 April 2009 (UTC)