This discussion brings to mind the threads on the many variations of "Wildwood Flower," wherein "...pale emelita [or amanita] and islip so blue" morphed into "...pale and the leader and eyes look so blue."

In trying to figure out which version is older, and whether one may be based on mondegreens of the other, I'm curious as to which, if any, of the following are (or used to be) common Celtic or English expressions, and what they mean:

•"to sit as a jockey" as an occupation [I thought one "sat as a judge" but "rode as a jockey"]
• "cozy as a codfish show"
• "cozy as a codfish"
• "she's her mother's darling" • "a chucky for his pay" [or just "chucky"]

Maybe you 'cats from the other side of the pond can enlighten me.

Thanks,

Genie