1. n. & v.
--n.
1. a a male bird, esp. of a domestic fowl. b a male lobster, crab, or salmon. c WOODCOCK.
2 Brit. sl. (usu. old cock as a form of address) a friend; a fellow.
3 coarse sl. the penis.
4 Brit. sl. nonsense.
Usage:
In senses 3, 4 usually considered a taboo word.
5 a a firing lever in a gun which can be raised to be released by the trigger. b the cocked position of this (at full cock).
6 a tap or valve controlling flow.
--v.tr.
1. raise or make upright or erect.
2 turn or move (the eye or ear) attentively or knowingly.
3 set aslant, or turn up the brim of (a hat).
4 raise the cock of (a gun).
Phrases and idioms:
at half cock only partly ready. cock-a-doodle-doo a cock's crow. cock-and-bull story an absurd or incredible account. cock crow dawn. cocked hat a brimless triangular hat pointed at the front, back, and top. cock-fight a fight between cocks as sport. cock-fighting this sport. cock-of-the-rock a S. American bird, Rupicola rupicola, having a crest and bright orange plumage. cock-of-the-walk a dominant or arrogant person. cock-of-the-wood
1. a capercaillie.
2 US a red-crested woodpecker.
cock-shy
1. a a target for throwing at with sticks, stones, etc. b a throw at this.
2 an object of ridicule or criticism. cock a snook see SNOOK(1).
cock sparrow
1. a male sparrow.
2 a lively quarrelsome person. cock up Brit. sl. bungle; make a mess of. cock-up n. Brit. sl. a muddle or mistake. knock into a cocked hat defeat utterly.
Etymology: OE cocc and OF coq prob. f. med.L coccus 2. n. & v.
--n. a small pile of hay, straw, etc. with vertical sides and a rounded top.
--v.tr. pile into cocks.
Etymology: ME, perh. of Scand. orig.