Literature Online has added some new material, so I looked again for
"cock tail."
Joseph Mather lived from 1737-1804. Literature Online cites THE SONGS
(1862??):
SONG XXXV: The Cock-Tail Lady
SONG XL: The Nether Green Lad ("Bang-beggar, else "Cock-tail reel"...)
SONG LIL: The Cock-Tail Feast
Check it out.
Any opinions about Joseph Mather and "cock tail"?