gentry cove

English

Alternative forms

• gentry cofe

Noun

gentry cove (plural gentry coves)

1. (obsolete, UK, thieves' cant) A gentleman.
   • 1621, Ben Jonson, The Gypsies Metamorphosed:

     As priest of the game, / And prelate of the same. / There's a gentry cove here.

   • 1837, Benjamin Disraeli, chapter XIV, in Venetia:

     'The gentry cove will be romboyled by his dam,' said a third gipsy. 'Queer Cuffin will be the word yet, if we don't tout.'

   • 2012, Kate Ross, A Broken Vessel:

     He's a go among the goes, is Mr. Kestrel. He's only got to sport a new kind of topper, or tie his crumpler a new way, and every gentry-cove in town does just the same.

Derived terms

• gentry cove's ken (“a gentleman's house”)

Related terms

• gentry mort

References

• John S[tephen] Farmer; W[illiam] E[rnest] Henley, compilers (1893) “gentry cove”, in Slang and Its Analogues Past and Present. […], volume III, [London: […] Harrison and Sons] […], →OCLC, page 132.