Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
COACHBELL, COCHBELL, n. Also in forms coachbill, cotchbel, cotchbol, cochbel, codgebell, codgybel (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. s.v. coachbell).
1. “The earwig” (Lth. 1825 Jam.2, cochbell; e.Dmf.2 1917). Given in Watson Rxb. W.-B. as obsol.
2. “A large black beetle” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
[From n.Eng. dial. twitch-batlock, -billock, -bell, idem. The first element is Eng. twitch, to pinch, nip (N.E.D.), the Sc. forms showing coalescence of w with preceding t and change from t to c (see Watson Rxb. W.-B., Intro. §§ 27 (f) and 5 (e)), or perhaps twitch, forceps, tweezers, with its obs. variant quitch, which latter is also an obs. variant of coach. The second element is obs. Eng. ballock, a testicle, from the position of the pincers of the earwig.]
