Plural of cockshie or cockshy; targets (often wooden objects or live roosters) used in the old game or sport of cockshying where people threw projectiles to knock them down.
From 'cock' (rooster) + 'shy' (to throw, or the target of a throw). Refers to the actual roosters or wooden representations used as targets in this fairground game.
Cockshying was genuinely a thing at English fairs until it was banned—people would pay to throw sticks or balls at a rooster tied to a post, and whoever knocked it down won a prize, which seems cruel by today's standards.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.