Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cozen” come from?

cozen (English) comes from Italian cozzonare, from Italian cozzone, from Latin cocio, from German Kutsche, from French couché, from French coucher, from Middle French coucher, from Old French couchier — whale, sea monster; abyss.

cozen (English): To become cozy; to become acquainted,...

Definitions

  1. To become cozy; to become acquainted,...

Ancestry of “cozen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italiancozzonareto cheat
2Italiancozzonemiddleman, broker
3Latincocioa broker, factor
4GermanKutschecarriage; coach; A large, old automobile in poor...
5Frenchcouchépast participle of coucher; in bed
6Frenchcoucherto lay, to lay down; to put to bed, to put up; to...
7Middle Frenchcoucherto put to bed; setting
8Old Frenchcouchierto go to bed; to have sex; bedtime
9Latincollocō—
10Latincōn-—
11Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
12Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
13Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
14Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
15Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
16Middle Englishkyt—
17Russianкитwhale; genitive plural of ки́та
18Old Church Slavonicкитъwhale
19Ancient Greekκῆτοςwhale, sea monster; abyss

Words derived from “cozen”

  • cozenage
  • cozener
Every word from Ancient Greek κῆτος →