coteful

English

Etymology

From cote +‎ -ful.

Noun

coteful (plural cotefuls)

1. (rare) A number sufficient to fill a cote.
   • 1895, Henry Kingsley, The Hillyars and the Burtons: A Story of Two Families‎^[1], pages 59-60:

     Seven honest good fellows were respectfully afraid of one rogue ; and the rogue was perfectly aware of the fact, and treated them accordingly ; much as a hawk would treat a coteful of pigeons, if he found it convenient to pass the night among them.

   • 1959, Dudley Barker, Private Company‎^[2], page 84:

     […] there were old gaunt trees, and some five-barred gates, and crooked chimneys, and a coteful of doves, that gave the place a certain rural charm, even in mid-winter.

   • 2000, Wilder Perkins, Hoare and the Headless Captains‎^[3], page 74:

     So, when she asked me to bring over that lad Jamie an’ his coteful of pigeons, I thought nowt of it but took him aboard.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:coteful.