What does cose mean?
"Cose" is a rare English verb meaning to nestle or snuggle in a warm, comfortable manner — to make oneself snug and content, especially beside a fire or under blankets. It belongs to the same family as the familiar word "cosy" (or "cozy") but functions as an action rather than a description: where something can simply be cosy, one actively coses by curling up, settling in, or drawing close to others for warmth. The verb is chiefly dialectal and appears far more often in British than American English, surviving mostly in informal speech and older regional usage, frequently in the fixed phrase "cose up." Because modern speakers overwhelmingly prefer "snuggle," "nestle," or "cuddle," encountering "cose" today gives a pleasantly old-fashioned impression. For vocabulary enthusiasts it offers a charming glimpse of how everyday comfort once had a verb all its own.
verbTo nestle or snuggle together in a warm, comfortable way; to make oneself cosy and snug.
- To snuggle or nestle closely for warmth or comfort; to make oneself cosy.
"The kittens cosed up against their mother's warm flank."
"On cold winter evenings the whole family would cose around the fire."
"She cosed down into the blankets and was asleep within minutes."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cose
"Cose" arose in English, likely in regional British speech, as a verbal use connected with "cosy" (also spelled "cozy"), the familiar term for comfortable warmth. It developed as a dialectal verb alongside its better-known adjective sibling, and has remained a minor word throughout its history, never entering widespread standard use. Its closest living relative in modern English is "cosy" itself.
How cose is actually used
A rare, chiefly dialectal verb found mainly in British English; it survives largely in informal speech and older regional usage, most often in the phrase "cose up." Modern speakers more commonly use "snuggle" or "nestle," so "cose" carries a quaint, old-fashioned flavour.
Easily confused with cose
"Cozy" is an adjective describing warmth and comfort, while "cose" is the rarer verb describing the act of nestling or making oneself snug.