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cog¹

(kŏg, kôg)

1. 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. A cogwheel.

3. A subordinate member of an organization who performs necessary but usually minor or routine functions.

[Middle English cogge, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish kugg, kugge.]

cogged adj.

cog²

(kŏg, kôg)

v. cogged, cog·ging, cogs

v.tr.

To load or manipulate (dice) fraudulently.

v.intr.

To cheat, especially at dice.

An instance of cheating; a swindle.

[Origin unknown.]

cog³

(kŏg, kôg)

A tenon projecting from a wooden beam designed to fit into an opening in another beam to form a joint.

tr.v. cogged, cog·ging, cogs

To join with tenons.

[Alteration (influenced by COG¹) of cock, to join with tenons.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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