General
cove
What does cove mean?
A dupe or mark, when paired as 'cully' or 'cull' — the man to be cheated.
"Mark the cully by the bar; his purse hangs heavy."
Origin
Attested from the late 16th century and through B.E.'s canting dictionary (1699) and Grose (1785). 'Cove' for a fellow survived deep into mainstream English; 'cull' and 'cully' for a dupe are the related forms.
Frequently asked questions
What does cove mean in thieves' cant?
A man or fellow — a neutral canting word coloured by its adjective, attested from the late 1500s through Grose (1785).
What is the difference between cove, cull and cully?
'Cove' is any man; 'cull' and 'cully' lean toward a dupe or mark to be cheated.
Is cove still used?
Yes — 'cove' for a chap survived well into mainstream British and Australian English long after the cant faded.
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