cosh
1 Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
noun
noun
-
a blunt weapon, often made of hard rubber; bludgeon
-
an attack with such a weapon
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
coshsimple
-
coshessimple
-
have coshedperfect
-
has coshedperfect
-
am coshingprogressive
-
are coshingprogressive
-
is coshingprogressive
-
have been coshingperfect progressive
-
has been coshingperfect progressive
Past
-
coshedsimple
-
had coshedperfect
-
was coshingprogressive
-
were coshingprogressive
-
had been coshingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of cosh1
First recorded in 1865–70; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Romani kosh, koshter “piece of wood,stick,” akin to Sanskrit kāṣṭham
Origin of cosh2
First recorded in 1870–75; cos(ine) + h(yperbolic)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Shearer said: "When England were under the cosh, the manager made the right substitutions. The subs came on and they did their job. What an incredible night."
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
Scotland were leading 1-0 but they were under the cosh against the 83rd best team in the world.
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
Four-time major champion Sinner was imperious and looked unflustered on the few occasions that the aggressive Shelton put him under the cosh.
From Barron's ● Jan. 28, 2026
She told the BBC: "She felt under the cosh... No support was offered to her whatsoever."
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2023
Sheep's vool shtickin' by der fences efferwhere on der ranch, py cosh!
From The Flying U Ranch by Bower, B. M.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
