Literally, a person born within earshot of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow church in what is now the City of London. However, technically speaking there can be no cockneys born after 1945 since the bells were destroyed by German bombs during WWII.
Today the term has expanded to encompass not only those from East London specifically but from London in general. The latter tends to be attributed by non-Londoners, stemming from their ignorance of the true meaning of the word.
Today the term has expanded to encompass not only those from East London specifically but from London in general. The latter tends to be attributed by non-Londoners, stemming from their ignorance of the true meaning of the word.
by hux June 01, 2003
Person from the East End of London. Supposedly 'born with the sound of bow-bells'. When I used to live in Houghton Regis there were some next door, and they talked and acted nothing like the ones in Eastenders (most of whom are posh actors trying to sound working class). And let's be honest, a lot of TV producers are lovies and darlings who seem to think working class people (especially cockneys) are automatically criminals. Alright, I'm sure there are criminals in the East End. But thanks to a succession of useless, soft-head, corrupt UK governments, there are bloody villains everywhere you go in Britain. Counties around the south of England tend of be full of 'mockneys' - total arseholes who think putting on a fake cockney accent makes them sound hard (but don't tell their mummies).
Mo Slater has stolen a baby's cot and is now selling it like the heartless criminal she is. Egads! You nasty evil cockney!
Oh, go smell the coffee, BBC.
Oh, go smell the coffee, BBC.
by StormSworder August 12, 2006
by bru January 30, 2004
by england lover July 25, 2006
Person 1: I always have a difficult time understanding Cockney.
Person 2: Yeah, me too. Especially when your mom speaks it.
Person 2: Yeah, me too. Especially when your mom speaks it.
by adlsajfdlsjalfdk December 12, 2008
A person from East London - definitely not one of those ponces from North or West London who drink wine instead of beer and spend all day talking about their houses.
A real Cockney is someone that all the manc, scouser, geordie and mackem hardmen really want to be but won't admit to. Not only is the Cockney smarter and more
cunning than the northerner, but he (or she) is better looking, sharper dressed, and a much better street fighter. Come down to Upton Park and try West Ham if you think otherwise.
And look, we can spell too!
The typical northern master criminal is someone who thieves car radios, goes shoplifting or robs seven-year old kids at knifepoint. That's about their limit. A good old Cockney blag, on the other hand, involves robbing millions of quid from banks, trains and bullion warehouses. Different league.
So to sum up: the cockney is better looking, better dressed, a better fighter, more intelligent and better in bed than the northerner.
That's why they hate us.
A real Cockney is someone that all the manc, scouser, geordie and mackem hardmen really want to be but won't admit to. Not only is the Cockney smarter and more
cunning than the northerner, but he (or she) is better looking, sharper dressed, and a much better street fighter. Come down to Upton Park and try West Ham if you think otherwise.
And look, we can spell too!
The typical northern master criminal is someone who thieves car radios, goes shoplifting or robs seven-year old kids at knifepoint. That's about their limit. A good old Cockney blag, on the other hand, involves robbing millions of quid from banks, trains and bullion warehouses. Different league.
So to sum up: the cockney is better looking, better dressed, a better fighter, more intelligent and better in bed than the northerner.
That's why they hate us.
Cockney to geordie: ere - you a faackin norverner?
You're faackin ded sun.
Cockney to Cockney: let's git darn sarf o' the river an giv them faackin Millwall cants a ruckin.
You're faackin ded sun.
Cockney to Cockney: let's git darn sarf o' the river an giv them faackin Millwall cants a ruckin.
by mickthefish December 09, 2009