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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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cockney
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As with many words, this was a term of ridicule which came later to be used with pride. A cockney was originally any spoilt child brought up in the soft ways of the town rather than the country. By the 17C it was being applied specifically to Londoners and the theory already existed that a true cockney must have been born within the sound of *Bow Bells. The traditional image of the cockney is of someone streetwise and cheeky; in keeping with this, the cockney accent rattles along paying scant attention to consonants.
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