cosh: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal (noun/verb as weapon); Technical (verb in engineering).
Quick answer
What does “cosh” mean?
A heavy blunt weapon, typically a weighted club or truncheon.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A heavy blunt weapon, typically a weighted club or truncheon.
To hit someone or something with such a weapon; in UK engineering/construction, to secure, connect, or brace using a metal collar or clamp.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a noun/verb meaning a blunt weapon, it is primarily British. American English would use 'blackjack', 'bludgeon', or 'club'. The engineering meaning is also British.
Connotations
In UK, strongly associated with street crime, burglary, or historical police equipment. Sounds dated or deliberately evocative of such contexts.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, but higher recognition in UK due to its place in crime fiction and historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cosh” in a Sentence
[VN] (cosh sb)[VN] [with N] (cosh the pipe with a metal cosh)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cosh” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The thief coshed the guard and made off with the money.
- You need to cosh those two pipes together securely.
American English
- The assailant bludgeoned the victim. (US equivalent)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, except in historical or criminology studies.
Everyday
Used in UK in contexts of crime reports or nostalgic stories.
Technical
In UK engineering: 'to cosh a joint' meaning to clamp or secure it.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cosh”
- Confusing with 'cosh' as hyperbolic cosine (mathematics, pronounced /ˈkɒʃ/).
- Using in formal writing.
- Using in American English without explanation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is relatively low-frequency and is considered somewhat dated, though it is still understood, particularly in British English in specific contexts.
Yes, it can be used as a verb meaning 'to hit with a cosh'. In UK engineering, it also has a technical verb meaning 'to clamp or secure'.
A 'truncheon' is the official term for a police officer's baton. A 'cosh' typically implies an illegal, heavy, often homemade weapon used by criminals, though historically police may have used similar items.
The word is primarily British. An American would likely use terms like 'blackjack', 'sap', or 'bludgeon' for the weapon, and would not use the engineering meaning at all.
A heavy blunt weapon, typically a weighted club or truncheon.
Cosh is usually informal (noun/verb as weapon); technical (verb in engineering). in register.
Cosh: in British English it is pronounced /kɒʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /kɑːʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cosh someone on the head”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a robber saying 'COSH' as the sound of a heavy object hitting someone's head.
Conceptual Metaphor
VIOLENCE IS A TOOL (the cosh as an instrument of force).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'cosh' be LEAST appropriate?