cosh
Cosh (noun) means a short, heavy stick or weighted tube used as a weapon to strike someone, especially over the head. Example: “The robber carried a leather cosh weighted with lead shot.”
How to Use Cosh
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short heavy stick used to hit someone; in maths, the hyperbolic cosine.
The weapon sense is chiefly British and somewhat old-fashioned, common in crime writing. The maths sense is fully technical and international.
In maths, cosh pairs with sinh and tanh — the h stands for hyperbolic.
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The robber carried a leather _____ weighted with lead shot.
Related Words
Rhymes for cosh
See all rhymes for cosh →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a cosh and a truncheon?
A truncheon is a rigid baton issued to police as standard equipment, while a cosh is typically shorter, often flexible or weighted at one end, and is associated with improvised or criminal use. In many jurisdictions carrying a cosh is an offence in itself.
How do you pronounce cosh in maths?
Most mathematicians say it as a single syllable, 'kosh', rhyming with 'posh'. Some read it aloud as 'cos-h' or 'hyperbolic cosine', particularly when clarity matters.
What does 'under the cosh' mean?
It is a British idiom meaning under heavy pressure or sustained attack, used especially in sport and business. A team defending desperately for the last twenty minutes is said to be under the cosh.