maggoty a Cp OED ~ a 1 'full of maggots' (1727-). Of cod-fish, improperly cured and infested with the larvae of blow-flies; spoiled, unsavoury; freq in names of small coves where fish are landed and offal discarded.
[1773] 1971 SEARY 241 Maggotty Cove (Lane 1773). [1810] 1971 ANSPACH 25 ~ When the smallest quantity of fresh or rain water is suffered to lodge in any part of the fish ... or when the splitter has left too many joints of the bone, so that any quantity of blood has remained, or where there is too great a quantity of fish in the water horse ... the flies will gather about it, and leave on it fly-blows, which will [soon turn] into maggots. 1905 DUNCAN 125-6 'Way down on Pigeon Pond Island, / When daddy comes home from swilin', (Maggoty fish hung up in the air, / Fried in maggoty butter)! 1953 Nfld & Lab Pilot ii, 106 [At Hickmans harbour] Maggotty cove indents the southern shore of the arm... A large stream discharges into this cove. 1955 DOYLE (ed) 30 "I'se the B'y": I don't want your maggoty fish, / That's no good for winter.
