E
Interestingly (and perhaps rather geekily, for which I apologise in advance), it has its origins in the French word caper, meaning to seize, and which is also a slang word for organised robbery, although I don't know for certain that the derivation is connected.
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation-LASER
The organized robbery connection might explain the terms "cop a plea", "cop a feel", etc, which have negative images. But I think we may be hi-jacking the thread.
Isn't that just a "cop" out
Boo! User shanghais honest chap's real attempt for thread.
Nice one!
(Excuse me moving your apostrophe, it had somehow shifted to the wrong spot. I can't help it, I'm still a typesetter at heart.)
But U Shouldn't Have Called Ray A Firestarting ****...
Cheers,
Tom