> as lemmas

?1555 Image of Idlenesse xvi. sig. C.vi^v Beinge hym selfe a cocke of the game, he [sc. a Gentleman of the Weste partes] thought her to be a henne of the same sorte, and trusted well to haue some iolly good treadynge by the way.

1569 T. Blague Schole of Wise Conceytes 2 A countryman had a Cocke of the game, which bet and vanquished all other cocks neere about.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 279 Not only these cocks of game, but the very common sort of the dunghill.

a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Devon 261 [He] was a Cock of the Game..the onely man of note..who..lost his life to save his Queen and Countrey.

1684 R. Howlett School Recreat. 134 Distempers incident to the Cock or Chick of the Game.

1792 Brooke's Fool of Quality (new ed.) II. 113 My adversaries, on all sides, are such cocks of the game.

1822 W. Scott Fortunes of Nigel II. iii. 59 It will be long ere his lordship ruffle a feather with a cock of the game.

1895 Rev. of Reviews Jan. 126/1 As if some upstart little bantam..were to challenge to a deadly combat some great old cock of the game.

1913 J. Farnol Amateur Gentleman 609 Here's one [sc. a song-book] as is jest the thing for a convivial cock o' the game—a fine, young, slap-up buck like you, my Lord.

2007 ‘L. Burton’ Bound in Moonlight 120 ‘He's a cock of the game, and no denying it,’ Narcissa said. ‘He's also as cold-blooded a viper as ever lived.’