COCKET Meaning and
Definition
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Cocket is an archaic medieval legal term that refers to a special privilege or custom granted to a particular town, city, or port. It can also signify a document or seal that signifies this privilege. The term originates from Middle English and Middle French, derived from Latin "coqua," which means a small vessel or cask.
In legal contexts, being "cocketed" meant having the right to engage in trade or other commercial activities, often with exemptions or reduced duties or tariffs. This privilege was typically granted by the monarch or a local authority to encourage economic activities in a specific location. Cocket towns or ports would enjoy certain benefits such as reduced taxes, exclusive trading rights, or exemption from certain regulations imposed on other regions.
The term "cocket" can also refer to the official document or seal that authenticated this special privilege. A cocket document was often issued by customs officials to traders, validating their right to transport goods or engage in commerce. Such documents could be presented at ports or checkpoints as proof of entitlement to the conferred benefits.
Today, the term "cocket" is largely obsolete and has faded from modern legal usage. However, historians and legal scholars still refer to it to discuss the economic and trade practices of medieval times, shedding light on privileges granted to various towns and ports and their impact on commercial activities.
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An official seal; a written certificate, sealed, given by the custom-house officers to merchants to show that their merchandise has been properly entered.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for COCKET
- ckcket
- cpcket
- c0cket
- c9cket
- coxket
- covket
- cofket
- codket
- cocjet
- cocmet
- coclet
- cocoet
- cociet
- cockwt
- cockst
- cockdt
- cockrt
- cock4t
- cock3t
Etymology of COCKET
The word "cocket" has a complex etymology with origins dating back to Middle English. It can be traced back to the medieval Latin word "coqueta", which means "customs house". The Latin term was further influenced by Old French, where "cocket" referred to a document certifying the payment of customs duty. Ultimately, the word derived from the Latin verb "coquere", meaning "to cook" or "to prepare". This connection comes from the idea of the customs house being a place where goods were "cooked" or processed for import or export. Over time, "cocket" evolved to also refer to the custom seals on documents used at customs houses. Additionally, "cocket" came to be associated with a specific kind of seal used in England during the Middle Ages, known as a "cocket seal". This seal indicated that goods had passed the customs house and were certified for transport.
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