The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cocker \Cock"er\, n. [From Cock the bird.]
   1. One given to cockfighting. [Obs.] --Steele.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Zool.) A small dog of the spaniel kind, used for starting
      up woodcocks, etc.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cocker \Cock"er\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cockered; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Cockering.] [OE. cokeren; cf. W. cocru to indulge,
   fondle, E. cock the bird, F. coqueliner to dandle (Cotgrave),
   to imitate the crow of a cock, to run after the girls, and E.
   cockle, v.]
   To treat with too great tenderness; to fondle; to indulge; to
   pamper.
   [1913 Webster]

         Cocker thy child and he shall make thee afraid.
                                                  --Ecclesiasticus
                                                  xxx. 9.
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         Poor folks cannot afford to cocker themselves up. --J.
                                                  Ingelow.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cocker \Cock"er\, n. [OE. coker qyiver, boot, AS. cocer quiver;
   akin to G. k["o]cher quiver, and perh. originally meaning
   receptacle, holder. Cf. Quiver (for arrows).]
   A rustic high shoe or half-boots. [Obs.] --Drayton.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

cocker
    n 1: a small breed with wavy silky hair; originally developed in
         England [syn: cocker spaniel, English cocker spaniel,
         cocker]
    v 1: treat with excessive indulgence; "grandparents often pamper
         the children"; "Let's not mollycoddle our students!" [syn:
         pamper, featherbed, cosset, cocker, baby,
         coddle, mollycoddle, spoil, indulge]