cockalorumint.n.adj.

Etymology: Origin uncertain. Probably an arbitrary formation, or perhaps an alteration of post-classical Latin in saecula saeculorum, a liturgical formula used to end prayers (see in saecula saeculorum adv. and compare culorum n.); in later use the first syllable is sometimes apprehended as < cock n.¹ (see note). Compare hi cockalorum int., and also earlier jiggalorum n. and cockle-de-moy n. Original use and parallels in other languages. The word is likely to have been originally either a conjuror's call (see sense A.) or perhaps a call in the game of snip-snap-snorum (see snip-snap-snorum n. and compare earlier snap snorum n.). With the use as a conjuror's call, compare hey presto int. at hey int. 3d and hey or high jingo! at jingo int. and n. 1. The ending of the word is apparently intended to reflect classical Latin -orum , genitive plural ending. For the use of mock Latin in conjuror's calls, compare hocus-pocus n. 2, bumbis n. Compare Danish kakkelorum , kakelorum , kakalorum , an interjection signalling a sudden transformation (1789), a piece of meaningless mock Latin used in rhymes (1827), Swedish kackalorum , kakalorum humbug, trick, hoax (1792), noise, racket, hullabaloo (1843), kolorum merrymaking, loud festive noise (1744), noise, racket, jeering (1771), Hungarian †hokus pokus kukulorum , a piece of meaningless mock Latin used as an imitation of a liturgical formula (1803), and German †kukulorum , a conjuror's call (1827). Compare an earlier use of a similar piece of mock Latin in English, in an uncertain sense:c1550 Enterlude Iohan Euangelyst sig. A.ii^v Eugenio. But vnderstande you this latyne. Irisdysion. Ye syr I trowe. Eugenio. Responde tunice [sic] domine doctor clericorum But syr knowe you any iustes of corum. Irisdision. Why so? Eugenio. A felowe of myne was take with a Cuculorum For a cupple horses he stale in an euenynge. In the context of snip-snap-snorum, the call is first attested considerably later (1862, in the combination high cockolorum : compare hi cockalorum int.). Compare other calls used at the same point of the game in English and other languages: German apostolorum , bostelorum , bastelorum , bastelor , baselorum , basilurr , basiloniur , pasterlorum , fisilorum , ram-bas-culorum , Danish basselurre (all 19th cent.), English bachelorum (1862), Swedish hej bassalorum (1891), Dutch peccatorium (early 20th cent.). Association with cock n.¹ The instance in quot. c1796-8 at sense B. 2, usually interpreted as a reference to Alexander Gordon (c1678–1728), Marquess of Huntly (later second Duke of Gordon), apparently shows a pun on the calls used by conjurors or in the card game, on the use of hey int. in other lines within the stanza, and on the use of the Cock of the North as a nickname of the chiefs of Clan Gordon (compare cock n.¹ 13). A similar association with cock n.¹ (compare cocky adj. 2, cock v.¹ 2) and a reinterpretation of the β. forms at hi cockalorum adj., int., and n. as showing high adj. probably contributed to the development of senses related to self-importance and pomposity.