Chapter Cool Tankard to Coq-a-l'ane of C by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Copernicanism The doctrine that the earth moves round the sun, in opposition to the doctrine that the sun moves round the earth; so called after Nicolas Copernicus, the Prussian astronomer. (1473-1543.)

“Even Bellarmine does not by any means hold the consensus to be decisive against Copernicanism; for, in his letter to F. Foscarini, he says that though he does not believe that any proof of the earth's motion can be adduced, yet, should such proof occur, he is quite prepared to change his views as to the meaning of the Scripture text.”- Nineteenth Century, May, 1886 (The Case of Galileo).

“Whereas it has come to the knowledge of the Holy Congregation that that false Pythagorean doctrine altogether opposed to Holy Scripture, on the mobility of the earth and the immobility of the sun, taught by Nicholas Copernicus. ... This congregation has decreed that the said book of Copernicus be suspended until it be corrected.”- Decree of the H. Congregation of the Index, A.D. 1616. (Quoted in the Nineteenth Century, as above.)

Copesmate (2 syl.). A companion. “Copesmate of ugly night” (Rape of Lucrece), a mate who copes with you.

Cophetua An imaginary king of Africa, of great wealth, who “disdained all womankind.” One day he saw a beggar-girl from his window, and fell in love with her. He asked her name; it was Penelophon, called by Shakespeare Xenelophon (Love's Labour's Lost, iv. 1).
   They lived together long and happily, and at death were universally lamented. (Percy's Reliques, book ii. 6.)

“King Cophetua loved the beggar-maid.”
Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet. ii. 1.

Copper (A). A policeman. Said to be so called from the copper badge which Fernando Wood, of New York, appointed them to wear; but more likely a variant of “cop” (q.v.).

“There were cries of `Coppers, Coppers!' in the yard, and then a violent struggle. ... Whoever it was that was wanted had been evidently secured and dragged off to gaol.'- T. Terrell: Lady Delmar, 1.

Copper was by the ancient alchemists called Venus; gold, symbol of Apollo (the sun); silver, of Diana (the moon); iron, of Mars; quicksilver, of Mercury; tin, of Jupiter; and lead, of Saturn.

Copper Give us a copper, i.e. a piece of copper money. I have no coppers - no ha'pence.

Copper Captain (A). A Brummagem captain; a “General von Poffenburgh.” Michael Perez is so called in Rule a Wife and have a Wife, by Beaumont and Fletcher.

“To this copper-captain was confided the command of the troops.”- W. Irving.

Copper Nose Oliver Cromwell; also called “Ruby Nose,” “Nosey,” and “Nose Almighty,” no doubt from some scorbutic tendency which showed itself in a big red nose.

Copper-nosed Harry Henry VIII. When Henry VIII. had spent all the money left him by his miserly father, he minted an inferior silver coin, in which the copper alloy soon showed itself on the more prominent parts, especially the nose of the face; and hence the people soon called the king “Old Copper-nose.”

Copperheads Secret foes. Copperheads are poisonous serpents of America that give no warning, like rattlesnakes, of their attack. In the great Civil War of the United States the term was applied by the Federals to the peace party, supposed to be the covert friends of the Confederates.

Copple The hen killed by Reynard, in the tale of Reynard the Fox.

Copronymus So Constantine V. was surnamed (718, 741-775). “Kopros” is the Greek for dung, and Constantine V. was called Copronymus: “Parce qu'il salit les fonts baptismaux lorsqu'on le baptisait. ”