Cld cocked

Posted by Smokey Stover on December 13, 2008 at 04:34

In Reply to: Cld cocked posted by Jim Stafford on December 06, 2008 at 18:13:

: What is the origin of the term "cold cocked"? I have seen several suggestions that it arises from reference to water faucets or guns but I think it arises from the street lingo of young males. I think their sub-culture values virility and their phrases emphasize masculinity and vulgarity. Does anyone agree with me?

I agree that the lingo of males historically and in general reflects the value they place on virility (among other things), and the vulgarity probably reflects the way they wish to be perceived--that is, having a disinclination to pussy-foot around in a posture of propriety, being indifferent to artificial rules. The fact that there is a male lingo at all probably represents the desire of males to fill their speech with colorful and original-sounding expressions, thus reinforcing each speaker's uniqueness and originality. That's probably why we men like to string clichés together in our conversation.

Women, on the other hand, are notorious for their inclination to call things by their right name--except certain functions and anatomical parts that are very personal for them. Even in this regard, in the last sixty years women have become more conspicuously inclined to use slang and figurative speech, with a bit more relaxed attitude regarding propriety of subject matter. This is probably a triumph for feminism and the equality of women.

Having said all that, I don't think there is the slightest connection between "cold cocked" and vulgarity. The term means "knocked unconscious, knocked out, knocked cold." I don't know of any particular use of cock as either a verb or a noun that could be related directly to this expression, but I'm sure it is nothing naughty.
SS