by cock

English

Phrase

by cock

1. (archaic) A mild oath.

   Synonym: by cock and pie

   • 1914, Warwick Deeping, The King Behind the King, New York, N.Y.: McBride, Nast & Company, page 63:

     "By cock, you young ruffler, I can take blows better than words."

References

• “by cock” under “cock, n.⁶”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.