To cotton on to something: I was wrong in my explanation: it has
nothing to do with the Navy (excellent though that service is).
Anyone who cares to glance at OED 2.2 1045 and OED 1.651 Supplement
(those who can afford it may use the E-Text second edition...) will
see at once that it is slang, but much older than we thought.
The sequence is
Arabic word for output of the plany Gossypium
Soft filling for (medieval early form of) flak-jacket (14c)
The nice smooth nap that you get on the surface, so something
agreeable or attractive
Then, as a verb, to develope such a surface
to become attractive, or be attracted to
to agree, fraternise, become attached to
to grasp,understand -
1907 She didn't cotton on to me
1922 Didn't cotton on, like (DH Lawrence)
1940 We've only just cottoned on to it
(N Shute)
Gladly wolde he lerne; and gladly teche
(Chaucer, of the Clerk of Oxenford: where else?)
Anselm Cramer OSB
Ampleforth
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