cog
n.— «The drugs, known as “cognition enhancers” could improve brain performance in a number of ways, from sharpening short-term memory and increasing speed of thought. The Academy of Medical Sciences has already advised ministers that the use of such drugs—commonly known as “cogs”—would be so widespread that they would need to be regulated.» —“Children will be using brain-boosting drugs ‘in a generation’” by Aslinn Simpson Telegraph (United Kingdom) Sept. 19, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Mary Beth in Greenville, South Carolina, wonders: Why do we say four-oh-nine for the number 409 instead of four-zero-nine or four-aught-nine? What are the rules for saying either zero or oh or aught or ought to indicate that arithmetical symbol...
Jim in Columbia, South Carolina, has noticed sportscasters’ use of the phrase on the season with reference to a period of time. This construction shows up in the sports pages as early as the 1880s, first referring to a team’s revenue and...