The present participle of 'cote,' meaning to pass by or overtake, or in architecture, to provide with a cote (shelter for birds or animals).
From Old English cote, related to cottage and cot, originally meaning a shelter or hut. The meaning evolved to include the action of passing by something quickly.
The word 'cote' shares roots with 'cottage' and 'cot'—all from the same Old English concept of small protective shelters, showing how architecture words can transform into action words.
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