cog

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“
In addition to these basic weaknesses he owned another--the weakness of the cog which is constrained to turn with the great wheel of which it is a part In his heart of hearts Richard Gantry knew that Blount was right; knew that the forlorn-hope fight into which his friend and college classmate had plunged was a struggle to call out all that was best and finest in friendly loyalty.

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Definitions (40)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (8)

  1. noun One of a series of teeth, as on the rim of a wheel or gear, whose engagement transmits successive motive force to a corresponding wheel or gear.
  2. noun A cogwheel.
  3. noun A subordinate member of an organization who performs necessary but usually minor or routine functions.
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Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (22)

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Examples (50)

  • Decided to decide my pre-cog was out of order, but didn't really believe it. —  BETTER TO HAVE LOVED
  • Small imperfections in manufactured metals, such as a cog or a gear, can be revealed that could indicate premature failure of the part.
  • The Spurs though will be without a main cog, as Manu Ginobili is out due to a stress fracture in his leg. —  Latest Headlines - ABC 7 News
  • A cog was a craft larger than those usually designated ships--the cog John_, which is spoken of, had a crew of eighty-two men, and probably she carried besides a considerable number of knights and soldiers. —  How Britannia Came to Rule the Waves Updated to 1900
  • You are a useful cog--too useful to lose Chalmers Lose?--Me Starkweather I have but to raise my hand, any time--do you understand?--any time, and you are lost. —  Theft A Play In Four Acts
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This word has been looked up 165 times.

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Etymologies (8)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. Middle English cogge, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish kugg, kugge.
  2. Origin unknown.
  3. Alteration (influenced by cog1) of cock, to join with tenons.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (5)

  1. from Middle English cogge, coge (after Middle Dutch kogghe, Dutch kog = Middle Low German Low German kogge (later G. kogge) = Danish kogge, kog, kaag = Swedish dial. kåg = Icelandic kuggr; Middle Latin cogga, coggo, cogo), a variant of Middle English cokke, English cock, from Old French coque, a small boat: see cock.
  2. from Middle English cog, cogge, kog = Swedish kugge, a cog; prob. of Celtic origin, from Gaelic Irish cog = Welsh cocas, plural cocus, cocs, a cog. In def. 5, cf. cock, a notch.
  3. from Middle English coggen; from the noun.
  4. Not found in Middle English; perhaps from Welsh coegio, make void, trick, pretend, from coeg, empty, vain, saucy, silly, foolish: see cog. Cf. cokes, coax.
  5. from cog, v.
 

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/kɑg/
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