cozzer

n

a police officer. An item of London working-class slang. The word might have originated in the archaic market porters' term 'cozza(r)', from the Hebrew chazar meaning pork or pig. London's first black policeman, Norwell Roberts, was known as 'Nozzer the coz-zer'.

► 'I didn't want to see the shit-eating grins on the cozzers' faces.' (Jimmy Robinson, released prisoner, speaking on the BBC TV programme Panorama, 24 February 1997)