Comments on: Etymological question

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 19 Mar 2003 06:53:14 +0000

Thank you so much for posting the answer to the question. I’ve always wondered about that too. :-)

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 27 Feb 2003 09:33:15 +0000

I thought it was some kind of penis thing.

By: bran

bran — Thu, 27 Feb 2003 09:14:40 +0000

i’m with shelby on that one. at least that’s what i always thought. v. interesting query, and response from joeri. y’all are grooby hepcats.

By: Shelby :)

Shelby :) — Wed, 26 Feb 2003 21:23:32 +0000

Don’t chickens generally kinda tilt their heads and look at you sidways, due to their eyes being on the sides of their head and all? That’s where I always thought the phrase came from.

By: Miguel

Miguel — Wed, 26 Feb 2003 20:27:04 +0000

Thanks.

I like the Gaelic explanation, although it doesn’t explain the current meaning. I would think there’d be some connection with chickens, since they’re generally silly animals.

By: Joeri

Joeri — Wed, 26 Feb 2003 20:03:36 +0000

Do you know the origin of the word cockeyed?

There are two positions on this word. One suggests that it came from Irish Gaelic caoch, which means