The origin of 'cockney'

Posted by James@briggs13.fsnet.co.uk on August 17, 2004

In Reply to: The origin of 'cockney' posted by Michael on August 17, 2004

: Hello,
: I am curious about the origin of the word 'cockney' for Londoners. Can you tell me what you know about it?

This goes back to the 14C and comes from 'cokeney' - literally cock's egg and later applied contemptuously to townsmen. Why it is unique to London is not clear.