cozen
[kuhz-uh n]
- to cheat, deceive, or trick.
Origin of cozen
1565–75; perhaps < Old North French coçonner to resell, verbal derivative of coçon retailer (< Latin coctiōnem, accusative of coctiō, cōciō dealer), influenced by Middle French cousin dupe, literally, cousin
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for cozening
Historical Examples
I will have no gallivanting, no cozening and smiling and prating and distracting.
Desert DustEdwin L. Sabin
I am only glad that he did not succeed in cozening you further than he did.
The Belton EstateAnthony Trollope
A fine life thou hast of it with thy silks and thy baubles, cozening the last few shillings from the pouches of dying men.
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
You know I never get or save anything by cozening or classmating.
A real expert in cozening, a master of guile, was wanted to exploit the opportunity to its limit.
She Stands AccusedVictor MacClure
cozen
- to cheat or trick (someone)
Word Origin
C16: cant term perhaps related to cousin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for cozening
cozen
v.
1560s, of uncertain origin; perhaps from French cousiner "cheat on pretext of being a cousin;" or from Middle English cosyn "fraud, trickery" (mid-15c.), which is perhaps related to Old French coçon "dealer, merchant, trader," from Latin cocionem "horse dealer." Related: Cozened; cozening; cozenage.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper