1. A city of southern Shikoku, Japan, on an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. It is a port and fish-processing center.

2. (kō-chē) A city of southwest India on the Malabar Coast. Formerly called Cochin, it was the capital of the kingdom of the same name. The city was visited by Vasco da Gama in 1502 and colonized by the Portuguese in the following year. It was taken by the Dutch in 1663 and occupied by the British in 1795.