E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Cop (To).
To catch [a fever, etc.]. To “get copped” is to get caught by the police. (Latin, capere, to take, etc.) A similar change of a into o is in cotched (caught).
1
“They thought I was sleepin’, ye know,
And they sed as I’d copped it o’ Jim;
Well, it come like a bit of a blow,
For I watched by the deathbed of him.”
Sims: Dagonet Ballads (The Last Letter).
“’I shall cut this to-morrow, …” said the younger man. ‘You’ll be copped, then,’ replied the other.”—T. Terrell: Lady Delmar.
