1. people born in the East End of London, traditionally within hearing distance of Bow Bells
Usage: plural of cockney
2. people who speak with the distinctive accent and dialect associated with working-class London
Usage: informal

Examples

• The cockneys in the market spoke with thick London accents.
• Many cockneys moved to the suburbs after World War II.
• The film featured authentic cockneys from the East End.
• Traditional cockneys are known for their rhyming slang.
• The old cockneys remembered when the docks were bustling with activity.
• She studied the speech patterns of cockneys for her linguistics research.