cosh1

 
Pronunciation: /kɒʃ/
British informal

noun

  • a thick, heavy stick or bar used as a weapon: the defendants deny having a self-loading pistol and a telescopic cosh figurative a chemical cosh of sedatives

verb

[with object]
  • hit (someone) on the head with a cosh: the other coshed him and he fell unconscious

Phrases

under the cosh

under pressure; in a difficult situation: car dealers are under the cosh right now

Origin:

mid 19th century: of unknown origin