coquette (n.) — corpuscle (n.)

coquette (n.)

"woman who endeavors to gain the admiration of men, a flirt," 1660s, from French fem. of coquet (male) "flirt" (see coquet, which was used of women from 1610s).ETD coquette (n.).2

coquettish (adj.)

"resembling a coquette, characterized by coquetry," 1702, from coquette + -ish. Related: Coquettishly.ETD coquettish (adj.).2

Cora

fem. proper name, from Latin, from Greek Kore (see Kore).ETD Cora.2

coracle (n.)

"round boat of wicker, coated with skins," used by fishermen on the coast of Wales and parts of Ireland, 1540s (the thing is described, but not named, in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle from 9c.), from Welsh corwgl, from corwg, cognate with Gaelic curachan, Middle Irish curach "boat," which probably is the source of Middle English currock "coracle" (mid-15c.). The name is perhaps from the hides that cover it (see corium).ETD coracle (n.).2

coral (n.)

general name for the hard, calcareous skeleton excreted by certain marine polyps, c. 1300, from Old French coral (12c., Modern French corail), from Latin corallium, from Greek korallion, a word perhaps of Semitic origin (compare Hebrew goral "small pebble," Arabic garal "small stone").ETD coral (n.).2

Originally especially the red variety found in the Mediterranean, used ornamentally, hence "red, the (red) color of coral" (mid-15c.). As an adjective, "made of coral," mid-15c. The coral-snake (1760) is so called for the red zones in its markings. Coral-reef is attested from 1745 (see reef (n.1)).ETD coral (n.).3

coralline (adj.)

1630s, "reddish, pinkish red," from Late Latin corallinus "coral-red," from corallum (see coral). Meaning "consisting of or containing coral" is from 1650s.ETD coralline (adj.).2

corbel (n.)

"piece of stone, wood, etc., projecting from the vertical face of a wall to support some object," mid-14c., from Old French corbel, diminutive of corb "raven," from Latin corvus (see corvine); so called from its beaked shape. Corbel-step is attested from 1819.ETD corbel (n.).2

cord (n.)

c. 1300, corde, "a string or small rope composed of several strands twisted or woven together; bowstring, hangman's rope," from Old French corde "rope, string, twist, cord," from Latin chorda "string of a musical instrument, cat-gut," from Greek khorde "string, catgut, chord, cord," from PIE root *ghere- "intestine."ETD cord (n.).2

Also from c. 1300 as "string of a musical instrument." From c. 1400 as "a tendon or muscle." Figurative sense of "anything which binds or restrains" is from late 14c. Meaning "raised, cord-like rib on the surface of cloth" is from 1776. As a measure of wood of 128 cubic feet (eight feet long, four feet high and wide) first recorded 1610s, so called because it was measured with a cord of rope.ETD cord (n.).3

cordage (n.)

"ropes and cords collectively," especially on a ship, late 15c., from Old French cordage, from corde "cord" (see cord).ETD cordage (n.).2

cordial (adj.)

c. 1400, "of or pertaining to the heart" (a sense now obsolete or rare, replaced by cardiac), from Medieval Latin cordialis "of or for the heart," from Latin cor (genitive cordis) "heart," from PIE root *kerd- "heart." Meaning "heartfelt, proceeding from the heart as the supposed seat of kindly feelings" is from mid-15c. Related: Cordiality.ETD cordial (adj.).2

The noun meaning "something that invigorates" is from late 14c., originally "medicine, food, or drink that stimulates the heart." Meaning "sweet or aromatic liquor" is from 1610s.ETD cordial (adj.).3

cordially (adv.)

late 15c., "by heart" (Caxton), from cordial + -ly (2). Meaning "heartily, earnestly" is from 1530s; weakened sense of "with friendliness" is attested by 1781.ETD cordially (adv.).2

cordillera (n.)

"continuous ridge or range of mountains," 1704, from Spanish cordillera, "mountain chain," from cordilla, in Old Spanish "string, rope" (in modern Spanish "guts of sheep"), diminutive of cuerda, from Latin chorda "cord, rope" (see cord). Originally applied by the Spaniards to the Andes. Related: Cordilleran.ETD cordillera (n.).2

cordite (n.)

type of smokeless explosive, 1889, from cord + -ite (2); so called for its "curiously string-like appearance" in the words of a newspaper of the day.ETD cordite (n.).2

cordless (adj.)

of electrical devices or appliances, "working without a cord, battery-powered," 1905, from cord + -less.ETD cordless (adj.).2

cordon (v.)

1560s, "to ornament with a ribbon;" 1855 as "to guard with or as with a military cordon;" from cordon (n.). Related: Cordoned; cordoning.ETD cordon (v.).2

cordon (n.)

mid-15c., "cord, lace, or ribbon of fine material worn as an ornament or token of victory," from Old French cordon "ribbon, cord," diminutive of corde "cord" (see cord). Military sense of "a line of troops or military posts guarding a place" is by 1758.ETD cordon (n.).2

The original sense is preserved in cordon bleu (1727) "the highest distinction," literally "blue ribbon," for the sky-blue ribbon worn by the old French order of Knights-grand-cross of the Holy Ghost (the highest order of chivalry under the Bourbons). Extended figuratively to other persons of distinction, especially, in jocular use, to a first-rate cook.ETD cordon (n.).3

Cordon sanitaire (1857) is French, a line of troops or military posts set around an infected district to keep the disease from spreading.ETD cordon (n.).4

cordovan (adj.)

1590s, "of or pertaining to Cordova," the Spanish city, former capital of Moorish Spain (modern Córdoba); the name is said to be Carthaginian, from Phoenician qorteb "oil press."ETD cordovan (adj.).2

As a noun, "fine Spanish leather," 1620s, from Spanish cordovan (modern cordoban), from cordovano (adj.) "of Cordova." This is a later adoption of the word that had come into English earlier as cordwain, cordewane (see cordwain).ETD cordovan (adj.).3

corduroy (n.)

"thick, cotton stuff with a corded or ridged surface," 1774, probably from cord + obsolete 17c. duroy, name of a coarse fabric made in England, which is of unknown origin. Folk etymology is from *corde du roi "the king's cord," but this is not attested in French, where the term for the cloth was velours à côtes. As an adjective from 1789. Applied in U.S. to a road of logs across swampy ground (1780s) on similarity of appearance.ETD corduroy (n.).2

cordwain (n.)

"Cordovan or Spanish leather," late 14c., cordewane, from Anglo-French cordewan (c. 1300), from Old French cordowan, cordoan "(leather) of Cordova," the Spanish city that produced a type of leather favored for shoes by the upper class (see cordwainer).ETD cordwain (n.).2

cordwainer (n.)

"shoemaker, leatherworker," originally "a worker in Cordovan leather," mid-14c.; mid-12c. as a surname, from Anglo-French cordewaner, from Old French cordoan "(leather) of Cordova," the Spanish city whose leather was famous for quality. Compare cordovan, a later borrowing directly from Spanish.ETD cordwainer (n.).2

Related: Cordwainery.ETD cordwainer (n.).3

cord-wood (n.)

"cut wood sold by the cord for fuel," 1630s, from cord in the wood-measure sense + wood (n.).ETD cord-wood (n.).2

core (v.)

"to remove the core of" (a fruit), mid-15c., from core (n.). Related: Cored; coring.ETD core (v.).2

core (n.)

early 14c., "heart or inmost part of anything" (especially an apple, pear, etc.), of uncertain origin, probably from Old French cor, coeur "core of fruit, heart of lettuce," literally "heart," from Latin cor "heart," from PIE root *kerd- "heart."ETD core (n.).2

Meaning "a central portion cut and removed" (as from a tree, soil, etc.) is from 1640s. Meaning "internal mold of a casting, which fills the space intended to be left hollow" is from 1730. Nuclear physics sense "portion of a reactor containing the nuclear fuel and where the reactions take place" is from 1949.ETD core (n.).3

coreligionist (n.)

also co-religionist, "one of the same religion as another," 1835, from co- + religion + -ist.ETD coreligionist (n.).2

corer (n.)

"instrument for cutting the core out of an apple or other fruit," 1796, agent noun from core (v.).ETD corer (n.).2

co-respondent (n.)

in law, a joint respondent, one proceeded against along with another or others, 1857, from co- + respondent. "[S]pecifically, in Eng. law, a man charged with adultery, and made a party together with the wife to the husband's suit for divorce." [Century Dictionary].ETD co-respondent (n.).2

corgi (n.)

"breed of short-legged dog originally bred in Wales for herding cattle," 1921, from Welsh corgi, from cor "dwarf" + ci "dog" (from PIE root *kwon- "dog").ETD corgi (n.).2

coriaceous (adj.)

"resembling leather in texture, toughness, etc.," 1670s, from Late Latin coraceus, from Latin corium "skin, hide, leather" (see corium).ETD coriaceous (adj.).2

coriander (n.)

popular name of an umbelliferous plant (Coriandrum sativum) with a seed-like aromatic fruit, late 14c., coriaundre, from Old French coriandre (14c.), from Latin coriandrum, from Greek koriannon, often said by botanists to be related to koris "bedbug" from the bad smell of the unripe fruit, or perhaps it is a non-Indo-European word conformed to the Greek insect name.ETD coriander (n.).2

Corinna

fem. proper name, from Latin Corinna, from Greek Korinna, diminutive of korē "maiden," also an epithet of Persephone; see Kore.ETD Corinna.2

Corinth

city in Greece, from Latin Corinthus, from Greek Korinthos, from Pelasgian *kar- "point, peak." The -nthos identifies it as being from the lost pre-IE language of Greece.ETD Corinth.2

Corinthian (adj.)

1590s, "of or pertaining to Corinth," the ancient Greek city-state. The earlier adjective was Corynthoise (mid-15c.). From 1650s as an architectural order. As a noun, "inhabitant of Corinth," 1520s (Corinthies is attested from late 14c.).ETD Corinthian (adj.).2

In classical times among the other Greek states Corinth was noted for ornate architecture and notorious for its luxury and licentiousness (and for not scorning trade and profit); hence Corinthian, noun and adjective, in various slang or colloquial sense in English, especially "a swell, a man about town" (early to mid-19c. but especially 1820s).ETD Corinthian (adj.).3

Coriolis (adj.)

by 1912 in reference to the inertial force that acts on objects that are in motion relative to a rotating reference frame, from the name of French scientist Gaspard Gustave de Coriolis (1792-1843) who described it c. 1835.ETD Coriolis (adj.).2

corium (n.)

"innermost layer of the skin," 1836, from Latin corium "skin, hide, leather," related to cortex "bark," scortum "skin, hide," from PIE root *sker- (1) "to cut" (compare Sanskrit krtih "hide;" Old Church Slavonic scora "skin," Russian skora "hide," kora "bark;" Welsh corwg "boat made with leather skins," all from the same root).ETD corium (n.).2

cork (n.)

c. 1300, "the light, elastic outer bark of a species of oak tree native to Iberia and North Africa, used for many purposes," from Spanish alcorque "cork sole," probably from earlier Spanish corcho, from Latin quercus "oak" (see Quercus) or cortex (genitive corticis) "bark" (see corium).ETD cork (n.).2

In reference to the tree itself, mid-15c. From late 14c. as "cork-soled shoe." As "cork float for a fishing line," mid-15c. Meaning "cylindrical cork stopper or bung for a bottle, etc.," 1520s. As an adjective, "made of cork," 1716.ETD cork (n.).3

Cork

place in Ireland, Englished from Irish Corcaigh, from corcach "marsh."ETD Cork.2

cork (v.)

1570s, "to put a cork sole on a shoe," from cork (n.)). Meaning "to stop with a cork" is from 1640s. Figurative sense "to stop or check" is from 1640s. Meaning "blacken with burnt cork," especially the face, to perform in theatrical blackface, is from 1836. Related: Corked; corking.ETD cork (v.).2

corkage (n.)

"the corking or uncorking of bottles," specifically in reference to a charge by hotel-keepers, etc., for serving wine and liquor not furnished by the house, 1838, from cork (v.) + -age.ETD corkage (n.).2

corker (n.)

"unanswerable fact or argument," 1837, slang, something that "settles" a debate, discussion, conflict, etc.; hence "something astonishing" (1880s). Probably an agent noun from cork (v.) on the notion is of putting a cork in a bottle as an act of finality. Corker in the literal sense of "one who or that which corks" is from 1880.ETD corker (n.).2

corky (adj.)

c. 1600, "light, buoyant" (as cork is), hence, figuratively, of persons "lively;" from cork (n.) + -y (2). Of bottled liquors or wine, "having a flavor of cork," by 1840. Related: Corkiness.ETD corky (adj.).2

corkscrew (n.)

"tool used to draw corks from bottles," 1720, from cork (n.) + screw (n.). Given various figurative or extended senses from c. 1815; the verb is attested from 1837 (transitive), 1853 intransitive.ETD corkscrew (n.).2

corm (n.)

also corme, 1570s, "fruit of the service-tree," from French corme, from Latin cornum "cornel-cherry" (but applied to service-berries in French); see cornel. Of the tree itself, 1670s.ETD corm (n.).2

cormorant (n.)

"large, black swimming and diving bird," early 14c., cormeraunt, from Old French cormarenc (12c., Modern French cormoran), from Late Latin corvus marinus "sea raven" + Germanic suffix -enc, -ing. The -t in English probably is from confusion with words in -ant. See corvine + marine (adj.). The birds are proverbially voracious, hence the word was applied to greedy or gluttonous persons (1530s).ETD cormorant (n.).2

corn (n.1)

[grain], Old English corn "single seed of a cereal plant; seeds of cereal plants generally; plants which produce corn when growing in the field," from Proto-Germanic *kurnam "small seed" (source also of Old Frisian and Old Saxon korn "grain," Middle Dutch coren, German Korn, Old Norse korn, Gothic kaurn), from PIE root *gre-no- "grain."ETD corn (n.1).2

The sense of the Old English word was "grain with the seed still in" (as in barleycorn) rather than a particular plant. Locally understood to denote the leading crop of a district. It has been restricted to the indigenous maize in America (c. 1600, originally Indian corn, but the adjective was dropped), usually "wheat" in England, "oats" in Scotland and Ireland, while Korn means "rye" in parts of Germany.ETD corn (n.1).3

Maize was introduced to China by 1550, it thrived where rice did not grow well and was a significant factor in the 18th century population boom there. Corn-starch is from 1850. Corn-silk is attested from 1852.ETD corn (n.1).4

corn (n.2)

"hardening or thickening of skin," early 15c., corne, from Old French corne (13c.) "horn (of an animal)," later "a corn on the foot," from Latin cornu "horn of an animal," from PIE root *ker- (1) "horn; head."ETD corn (n.2).2

Latin cornu was used of many things similar in substance or form to the horns of animals and of projecting extremities or points: It could mean "a wart, a branch of a river, a tongue of land, the end of a bow or sail-yard, the peak of a mountain, a bugle, a wing of an army," or "the stiff hair of the Germans."ETD corn (n.2).3

corn (v.)

1550s, "to form into grains, granulate," from corn (n.1). From 1560s as "to preserve and season with grains ('corns') of salt." From 1785 (in corned) as "make drunk," as with corn whiskey. Corned beef has nothing to do with the grain; it is so called for the "corns" or "grains" of salt with which it is preserved.ETD corn (v.).2

cornball (n.)

"popcorn ball," 1843, from corn (n.1) + ball (n.1). The adjectival meaning "trite and old-fashioned" (by 1949 in Billboard magazine) probably is an elaboration of corny in this sense; cornball "a corny person" is noted in African-American vernacular by 1946.ETD cornball (n.).2

cornbread (n.)

also corn-bread, "kind of bread made from the meal of maize," 1775, from corn (n.1)+ bread (n.).ETD cornbread (n.).2

corn-cob (n.)

"elongated woody shoot of a maize plant on which the grains grow," 1787, from corn (n.1) + cob (n.). Corncob pipe is attested from 1832.ETD corn-cob (n.).2

corn-crib (n.)

"ventilated structure with slat sides used to store unshelled maize," 1804, American English, from corn (n.1) + crib (n.).ETD corn-crib (n.).2

corn-dodger (n.)

"kind of cake made of the meal of maize," 1835, from corn (n.1) + dodger (n.)ETD corn-dodger (n.).2

corn-dog (n.)

"frankfurter dipped in cornmeal batter, fried, and served on a stick," 1949, American English; see corn (n.1) + hot dog. Said to have been introduced by Vaudeville performers Neil and Carl Fletcher in 1942 at the Texas State Fair.ETD corn-dog (n.).2

cornea (n.)

"firm, transparent anterior part of the eyeball," late 14c., from Medieval Latin cornea tela "horny web or sheath," from Latin cornu (genitive cornus) "horn" (from PIE root *ker- (1) "horn; head"). So called for its consistency. Related: Corneal.ETD cornea (n.).2

cornel (n.)

type of common European tree or shrub with an edible fruit, 1550s, from German cornel-baum, from Old High German cornul, from Medieval Latin cornolium, from French cornouille, from Vulgar Latin *cornuculum, from Latin cornum "cornel-cherry," which is perhaps related to Greek kerasos "cherry."ETD cornel (n.).2

Old English also had borrowed the Latin word, in corntreow. The plant was noted for its hard wood, which was favored by the ancients for making shafts of spears and arrows.ETD cornel (n.).3

cornelian (n.)

"red variety of chalcedony," 1560s, a variant of corneline (c. 1400), from Old French corneline (Modern French cornaline), diminutive of corneola, which is probably from Vulgar Latin *cornea, from Latin cornus, name of a type of berry (see cornel and compare carnelian).ETD cornelian (n.).2

Cornelius

masc. proper name, from the name of a Roman gens.ETD Cornelius.2

corner (n.)

late 13c., "place where streets or walls meet;" early 14c., "intersection of any two converging lines or surfaces; an angle," from Anglo-French cornere (Old French corner, corniere), from Old French corne "horn; corner," from Vulgar Latin *corna, from Latin cornua, plural of cornu "horn, hard growth on the head of many mammals," from PIE root *ker- (1) "horn; head."ETD corner (n.).2

Latin cornu was used of pointed or stiff things but not of corners, for which angulus was the word. Meaning "a region or district" is from late 14c.; the four corners of the known earth is from late 14c. Sense of "either of the places where the upper and lower eyelids meet" is from late 14c. Meaning "a small, secret, or retired place" is from late 14c.ETD corner (n.).3

In boxing, from 1853. In soccer, short for corner-kick, by 1882. Sense of "a monopolizing of the market supply of a stock or commodity" is from 1853. As an adjective, from 1530s. Corner-shop is from late 13c.ETD corner (n.).4

To turn the corner "change direction," literally or figuratively, is from 1680s. To be just around the corner in the extended sense of "about to happen" is by 1905. To cut corners is by 1847 as "pass round a corner or corners as closely as possible;" figurative use, in reference to an easy or economical but risky course of action, is by 1882.ETD corner (n.).5

cornered (adj.)

late 14c., "having corners," past-participle adjective from corner (v.). Figurative sense "forced or driven into a position where surrender or defeat is inevitable" is from 1824.ETD cornered (adj.).2

corner (v.)

late 14c., "to furnish with corners; bring to a point by convergence," from corner (n.). Meaning "to turn a corner," as in a race, is from 1860s. Meaning "drive or force (someone) into a corner," also figuratively, "force into a position where defeat or surrender is inevitable," is American English from 1824; commercial sense "monopolize the market supply of a stock or commodity" is from 1836. Related: Cornered; cornering.ETD corner (v.).2

cornerstone (n.)

also corner-stone, late 13c., "stone which lies at the corner of two walls and unites them" (often the starting point of a building), hence, figuratively, "that on which anything is founded;" from corner (n.) + stone (n.). The figurative use is biblical (Isaiah xxvii.16, Job xxxviii.6, Ephesians ii.20), rendering Latin lapis angularis.ETD cornerstone (n.).2

In U.S. history, Alexander H. Stephens's Cornerstone speech explaining the new Confederate constitution was given at Savannah, Georgia, March 21, 1861. The image is older in U.S. political discourse and originally referred to the federal union.ETD cornerstone (n.).3

cornet (n.)

c. 1400, "A wind instrument made of wood and provided with six finger holes" [Middle English Compendium], from Old French cornet (14c.) "a small horn," diminutive of corn "a horn," from Latin cornu "horn of an animal," also "a bugle horn," from PIE root *ker- (1) "horn; head."ETD cornet (n.).2

Modern use in reference to a brass instrument with valves is short for cornet-à-pistons "cornet with pistons" (1836, from French).ETD cornet (n.).3

Related: Cornettist.ETD cornet (n.).4

cornfield (n.)

also corn-field, "field where corn is grown," late 13c. as a surname, from corn (n.1) + field (n.). In Great Britain a field in which any kind of grain is growing; in U.S. restricted to a field of Indian corn.ETD cornfield (n.).2

corn flakes (n.)

also corn-flakes, cornflakes, type of breakfast cereal, 1902, from corn (n.1) + flake (n.); the process of making them was discovered by American food manufacturer W.K. Kellogg in 1894. Earlier corn flakes was an ingredient in brewing (1890s).ETD corn flakes (n.).2

cornflower (n.)

"any flower or plant growing in grain fields" (typically the common bluebottle), 1570s, from corn (n.1) + flower (n.).ETD cornflower (n.).2

cornhole (v.)

synonymous with "do anal intercourse" by 1949, said to be by 1930s and said to be a reference is to a game played in the farming regions of the Ohio Valley in the U.S. from 19c., in which players take turns throwing a small bag full of feed corn at a raised platform with a hole in it, but references to this are wanting. From corn (n.1) + hole (n.). It also was the name of a kind of corn silo or underground storage pit for corn.ETD cornhole (v.).2

corn-husking (n.)

"social meeting of friends and neighbors at a farmer's barn to assist in husking of the newly harvested Indian corn," 1818, American English, from corn (n.1) + husk (v.). Corn-husker is from 1849.ETD corn-husking (n.).2

corny (adj.)

1570s, "full of corn, pertaining to corn," from corn (n.1) + -y (2). Chaucer used it of ale (late 14c.), perhaps to mean "malty." American English slang "old-fashioned, sentimental" is from 1932 (first attested in "Melody Maker"), perhaps originally "something appealing to country folk" (corn-fed in the same sense is attested from 1929). Related: Cornily; corniness.ETD corny (adj.).2

cornice (n.)

1560s, "a molded projection which crowns the part to which it is affixed," from French corniche (16c.) or directly from Italian cornice "ornamental molding along a wall," perhaps from Latin coronis "curved line, flourish in writing," from Greek koronis "curved object" (see crown). Perhaps influenced by (or even from) Latin cornicem, accusative of cornix "crow" (compare corbel). Sense of "ornamental molding running round the walls of a room just below the ceiling" is from 1660s.ETD cornice (n.).2

cornichon (n.)

"small gherkin," 1825, from French cornichon, diminutive of corne "horn" (of an animal), from Latin cornu "horn of an animal," from PIE root *ker- (1) "horn; head." So called for their shape.ETD cornichon (n.).2

Cornish (adj.)

"of or pertaining to Cornwall," the county in the far southwest of England, late 14c. (as a surname), from first element of Cornwall (q.v.) + -ish. Earlier was Cornwalsche, Cornwalish (c. 1200). As a noun, the name of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall, extinct as a spoken language since late 18c., from 1540s. Related: Cornishman.ETD Cornish (adj.).2

cornmeal (n.)

also corn-meal, "meal made of grain," 1782, from corn (n.1) + meal (n.2).ETD cornmeal (n.).2

corn-pone (n.)

"Indian-corn bread made with milk and eggs and baked in a pan," 1848, American English, from corn (n.1) + pone (n.).ETD corn-pone (n.).2

corn-row (n.)

also cornrow, 1769 as "a row of corn," by 1971 as a style of hair braids, so called for the resemblance. The verb in this sense also is by 1971.ETD corn-row (n.).2

corn-snake (n.)

popular name of a type of large but harmless rat-snake of the southeastern and central U.S., often found in cornfields, 1670s, from corn (n.1) + snake (n.).ETD corn-snake (n.).2

corn-stalk (n.)

also cornstalk, "stalk of a corn plant," 1816, from corn (n.1) + stalk (n.).ETD corn-stalk (n.).2

cornucopia (n.)

"horn of plenty," ancient emblem of fruitfulness and abundance, 1590s, from Late Latin cornucopia, in classical Latin cornu copiae "horn of plenty," originally the horn of the goat Amalthea, who nurtured the infant Zeus. See horn (n.) and copious. Related: Cornucopian.ETD cornucopia (n.).2

Cornwall

county in the far southwest of England, from Old English Cornwalas (891) "inhabitants of Cornwall," literally "the Corn Welsh," from the original Celtic tribal name *Cornowii (Latinized as Cornovii), literally "peninsula people, the people of the horn," from Celtic kernou "horn," hence "headland," from PIE *ker- (1) "horn; head, uppermost part of the body" (see horn (n.)), in reference to the long "horn" of land on which they live. To this the Anglo-Saxons added the plural of Old English walh "stranger, foreigner," especially if Celtic (see Welsh). The Romans knew it as Cornubia; hence poetic Cornubian.ETD Cornwall.2

corollate (adj.)

in botany, "having a corolla; like a corolla," 1825, from corolla + -ate (1).ETD corollate (adj.).2

corolla (n.)

1670s, "a small crown," from Latin corolla "a garland, a little crown," diminutive of corona "crown, garland" (see crown (n.)). Botanical use is from 1753. Related: Corollaceous.ETD corolla (n.).2

corollary (n.)

late 14c., "a proposition inadvertently proved in proving another," from Late Latin corollarium "a deduction, consequence," from Latin corollarium, originally "money paid for a garland," hence "gift, gratuity, something extra;" and in logic, "a proposition proved from another that has been proved." From corolla "small garland," diminutive of corona "a crown" (see crown (n.)).ETD corollary (n.).2

Also in Middle English "a follower, a sycophant" (late 14c.). As an adjective, "of the nature of a corollary," mid-15c.ETD corollary (n.).3

coroner (n.)

title of a county or municipal officer with certain duties, mid-14c. (mid-13c. as a surname), corouner, from Anglo-French curuner, from Anglo-Latin custos placitorum coronae (late 12c.), originally the title of the officer with the duty of protecting the private property of the royal family, from Latin corona, literally "crown" (see crown (n.)).ETD coroner (n.).2

In the Middle English period an elected county or borough officer charged with the supervision of pleas of the Crown and the administration of criminal justice. The duties of the office gradually narrowed and by 17c. the chief function was to determine the cause of death in cases not obviously natural.ETD coroner (n.).3

coronation (n.)

"act or ceremony of investing (a sovereign) with a crown," c. 1400, coronacioun, from Late Latin coronationem (nominative coronatio) "a crowning," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin coronare "to furnish with a crown," from corona "crown, wreath" (see crown (n.)).ETD coronation (n.).2

coronal (adj.)

1540s, "pertaining to a crown" (or, later, to one of the extended senses of Latin corona), from French coronal (16c.), from Latin coronalis "of or pertaining to a crown," from corona "a crown" (see crown (n.)).ETD coronal (adj.).2

corona (n.)

1650s, "a crown," from Latin corona "a crown, a garland," in ancient Rome especially "a crown or garland bestowed for distinguished military service" (from a suffixed form of PIE root *sker- (2) "to turn, bend").ETD corona (n.).2

With many extended senses in botany, anatomy, etc. As a brand of Cuban cigar, 1876. The brand of Mexican pale lager beer dates from 1925. The astronomical sense of "luminous circle observed around the sun during total eclipses" is from 1809. The two "crown" constellations, Corona Borealis and Corona Australis, both are Ptolemaic.ETD corona (n.).3

Corona Borealis "certainly is much more like that for which it is named than usually is the case with our sky figures," according to Richard Hinckley Allen ("Star-Names and Their Meaning," 1899), and he adds that to the Greeks it was stephanos, a wreath, and from Roman times on typically it was Ariadne's Crown. To Arab astronomers, however, it was Al Fakkah "the dish" (sometimes "the pauper's dish" or "the broken dish" — Latinized as Discus parvus confractus — as the celestial circle is incomplete), a word wrestled into European languages as Alphaca or Alphecca, and used as the name of the constellation's none-too-bright brightest star.ETD corona (n.).4

coronary (adj.)

c. 1600, "suitable for garlands;" 1640s, "pertaining to a crown, resembling a crown," both older senses now obsolete; from Latin coronarius "of or belonging to a wreath, presenting a garland-like grownth," from corona "wreath, crown" (see crown (n.)).ETD coronary (adj.).2

Anatomical use is from 1670s in reference to the blood vessels that supply the muscular substance of the heart and surround it like a crown. Coronary artery is recorded from 1741. As a noun meaning "a blockage of the flow of blood to the heart caused by a clot in a coronary artery," it dates from 1955, short for coronary thrombosis.ETD coronary (adj.).3

coronavirus (n.)

type of RNA virus affecting birds and mammals, in humans as a respiratory tract infection, by 1968, is so called for the spikes that protrude from its membranes and resemble the corona of the sun; see corona. Covid as a contraction of coronavirus disease seems to have been coined for the outbreak that began in China in 2019 (COVID-19).ETD coronavirus (n.).2

coronel (n.)

obsolete form of colonel.ETD coronel (n.).2

coronet (n.)

"a small crown," c. 1400, crownet, from Old French coronete, diminutive of corone "a crown," from Latin corona "crown" (see crown (n.)).ETD coronet (n.).2

corps (n.)

"a part of an army expressly organized and having a head," 1704, from French corps d'armée (16c.), which apparently was picked up in English during Marlborough's campaigns, from French corps (old French cors) "body," from Latin corpus "body" (from PIE root *kwrep- "body, form, appearance"); see corpse, which is a doublet of this word, for the pronunciation.ETD corps (n.).2

The field corps, a tactical unit of a large army composed of two or more divisions, began with Napoleon. The word was extended to other organized groups under a leader, as in corps de ballet (1826), corps diplomatique (1796). Corpsman "enlisted medical auxiliary in the U.S. military" is from 1941.ETD corps (n.).3

corporal (n.)

lowest noncommissioned army officer, 1570s, from French corporal, from Italian caporale "a corporal," from capo "chief, head," from Latin caput "head," also "leader, guide, chief person" (from PIE root *kaput- "head"). So called because he was in charge of a body of troops. Perhaps influenced by Italian corpo, from Latin corps "body." Or corps may be the source and caput the influence, as OED suggests.ETD corporal (n.).2

Earlier it meant "a communion cloth" (late 14c.), from Medieval Latin corporalis (palla).ETD corporal (n.).3

corporate (adj.)

early 15c., "united in one body, constituted as a legal corporation," as a number of individuals empowered to do business as an individual, in early use often of municipalities, from Latin corporatus, past participle of corporare "make or fashion into a body, furnish with a body," also "to make into a corpse, kill," from corpus (genitive corporis) "body" (from PIE root *kwrep- "body, form, appearance"). The past participle, corporatus, also was used as a noun meaning "member of a corporation."ETD corporate (adj.).2

In reference to any body of persons united in a community from c. 1600. Related: Corporately; corporateness.ETD corporate (adj.).3

corporative (adj.)

"having the character of a corporation," 1833, from Late Latin corporativus "pertaining to the forming of a body," from corporat-, past-participle stem of corporare "form into a body," from corpus (genitive corporis) "body" (from PIE root *kwrep- "body, form, appearance"). In 1920s and '30s often with reference to fascist systems of government.ETD corporative (adj.).2

corporal (adj.)

late 14c., "material, physical; secular;" c. 1400, "of or belonging to the body;" from Old French corporal (12c., Modern French corporel) "of the body, physical, strong" and directly from Latin corporalis "pertaining to the body," from corpus (genitive corporis) "body" (from PIE root *kwrep- "body, form, appearance").ETD corporal (adj.).2

Corporal punishment "punishment of the body" (as opposed to fine or loss of rank or privilege) is from 1580s. Related: Corporality.ETD corporal (adj.).3

corporeal (adj.)

1610s, "of a material or physical nature, not mental or spiritual," with adjectival suffix -al (1) + Latin corporeus "of the nature of a body," from corpus "body" (living or dead), from PIE *kwrpes, from root *kwrep- "body, form, appearance." Meaning "relating to a material body or physical thing" is from 1660s. Related: Corporeality, corporeally.ETD corporeal (adj.).2

corporation (n.)

mid-15c., corporacioun, "persons united in a body for some purpose," from such use in Anglo-Latin, from Late Latin corporationem (nominative corporatio) "assumption of a body" (used of the incarnation of Christ), noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin corporare "embody, make or fashion into a body," from corpus (genitive corporis) "body, dead body, animal body," also "a whole composed of united parts, a structure, system,community, corporation, political body, a guild" (from PIE root *kwrep- "body, form, appearance").ETD corporation (n.).2

Meaning "legally authorized entity, artificial person created by law from a group or succession of persons" (such as municipal governments and modern business companies) is from 1610s.ETD corporation (n.).3

corporatism (n.)

"principal or practice of corporate organization," 1880, from corporate + -ism. Used over the years in various senses of corporate; in 1920s-30s often with reference to fascist collectivism.ETD corporatism (n.).2

corpse (n.)

late 13c., cors "body," from Old French cors "body; person; corpse; life" (9c.), from Latin corpus "body" (from PIE root *kwrep- "body, form, appearance"). The order of appearance of senses in English is "dead body" (13c.), "live body" (14c.); it also meant "body of citizens" (15c.), "band of knights" (mid-15c.), paralleling the sense evolution in French that yielded the doublet corps.ETD corpse (n.).2

French restored the Latin -p- in 14c., and English followed 15c., but the pronunciation remained "corse" at first (and perhaps remains so with some speakers) and corse persisted as a parallel spelling. After the -p- began to be sounded (16c. in English), corse became archaic or poetic only. The terminal -e was rare before 19c.ETD corpse (n.).3

Corpse-candle "candle used at ceremonial watchings of a corpse before burial," is attested from 1690s.ETD corpse (n.).4

corpus (n.)

"matter of any kind," literally "a body," (plural corpora), late 14c., "body," from Latin corpus, literally "body" (see corporeal). The sense of "body of a person" (mid-15c. in English) and "collection of facts or things" (1727 in English) both were present in Latin.ETD corpus (n.).2

Also used in various medical phrases, such as corpus callosum (1706, literally "tough body"), corpus luteum (1788, literally "yellow body"). Corpus Christi (late 14c.), feast of the Blessed Sacrament, is kept on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. The city in Texas is named after the bay, which was so called by Spanish explorer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda, who discovered it on Corpus Christi day in 1519.ETD corpus (n.).3

corpulent (adj.)

"fleshy, portly, stout," late 14c., from Old French corpulent "stout, fat," from Latin corpulentus "fleshy, fat," from corpus "body" (from PIE root *kwrep- "body, form, appearance") + -ulentus "full of." Leigh Hunt was sent to prison for two years for calling the Prince Regent corpulent in print in 1812.ETD corpulent (adj.).2

corpulence (n.)

late 15c. "body size" (either large or small, with adjective), from Old French corpulence (14c.) "corpulence; physical size, build," from Latin corpulentia "grossness of body," abstract noun from corpulentus "fleshy, fat," from corpus "body" (from PIE root *kwrep- "body, form, appearance") + -ulentus "full of." In English, the restriction to "bulkiness, obesity, largeness of body" began late 16c. Earlier it meant "corporeality" (late 14c.). Related: Corpulency; corpulentness.ETD corpulence (n.).2

corpuscle (n.)

1650s, "any small particle," from Latin corpusculum "a puny body; an atom, particle," diminutive of corpus "body" (from PIE root *kwrep- "body, form, appearance"); for ending see -cule. In anatomy, "a microscopic body regarded by itself" (1741); applied to blood cells by 1845 (short for blood-corpuscle). Related: Corpuscular.ETD corpuscle (n.).2