Definition cog
Etymology 1
From Middle English cogge, from Old Norse [Term?] (compare Norwegian kugg (“cog”), Swedish kugg, kugge (“cog, tooth”)), from Proto-Germanic *kuggō (compare Dutch kogge (“cogboat”), German Kock), from Proto-Indo-European *gugā (“hump, ball”) (compare Lithuanian gugà (“pommel, hump, hill”)), from *gēw- (“to bend, arch”).
The meaning of “cog” in carpentry derives from association with a tooth on a cogwheel.
Noun
cog (plural cogs)
- A tooth on a gear.
- A gear; a cogwheel.
- An unimportant individual in a greater system.
- (carpentry) A projection or tenon at the end of a beam designed to fit into a matching opening of another piece of wood to form a joint.
- (mining) One of the rough pillars of stone or coal left to support the roof of a mine.
Verb
cog (third-person singular simple present cogs, present participle cogging, simple past and past participle cogged)
- To furnish with a cog or cogs.
Etymology 2
From Middle English cogge, from Middle Dutch kogge, cogghe (modern kogge), from Proto-Germanic *kuggō (compare German Kock (“cogboat”), Norwegian kugg (“cog (gear tooth)”)), from Proto-Indo-European *gugā (“hump, ball”) (compare Lithuanian gugà (“pommel, hump, hill”)), from *gēw- (“to bend, arch”). See etymology 1 above.
Noun
cog (plural cogs)
- (historical) A ship of burden, or war with a round, bulky hull.
Etymology 3
Uncertain origin. Both verb and noun appear first in 1532.
Noun
cog (plural cogs)
- A trick or deception; a falsehood.
Verb
cog (third-person singular simple present cogs, present participle cogging, simple past and past participle cogged)
- To load (a die) so that it can be used to cheat.
- To cheat; to play or gamble fraudulently.
- To seduce, or draw away, by adulation, artifice, or falsehood; to wheedle; to cozen; to cheat.
- To obtrude or thrust in, by falsehood or deception; to palm off.
Etymology 4
From Old English cogge.
Noun
cog (plural cogs)
- A small fishing boat.
- Alternative form of cogue (“wooden vessel for milk”)