I. ˈkäk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English cok, from Old English cocc; probably akin to obsolete Dutch cocke cock, Old Norse kokr; all of imitative origin
1.
a. : the adult male of the domestic fowl ( Gallus gallus ) — distinguished from cockerel
b. : the male of birds other than the domestic fowl, especially of other gallinaceous birds
c. : woodcock — usually used without regard to sex
d. archaic : the crowing of a cock ; also : cockcrow 1
e. : a representation of a cock ; specifically : weathercock
2. : a faucet, tap, valve, or similar device for starting, stopping, or regulating the flow of a liquid
a ball cock
a sill cock
an automobile radiator cock
sometimes : the amount of opening permitted by or as if by a cock
a faucet turned on full cock
3.
a. : one occupying a position of success and control : victor ; often : one dominating some field or leading some circle usually through determined aggressive individual effort
b. : a person of pluck and spirit and often a certain swagger or arrogance
all the young cocks dashing in new uniforms
— often especially formerly used as a term of intimate address
you're sure doing fine, old cock
4.
a. in older firearms : the hammer in the lock of a firearm
b. : the cocked position of the hammer
a gun at half cock
5.
a. : penis — usually considered vulgar
b. chiefly South & Midland : the female pudenda — usually considered vulgar
6.
a. : gnomon 1a
b. : an overhanging bracket containing a bearing for a watch or clock arbor or a wheel bridge supported at one end only
7.
[perhaps short for cock-and-bull story ]
slang Britain : nonsense , poppycock
“you were talking some awful cock about righteousness ,” the brigadier said — Bruce Marshall
•
- cock of the walk
II. adjective
1. : male — used of birds and sometimes of other animals
cock lobster
2. : chief , leading , top
a cock swordsman
a cock wencher
his house, having been cock house at football for three years running, is very likely to be beaten next winter — Joyce Cary
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English cocken, from cok (I) cock, male fowl
intransitive verb
1. : to act big, arrogant, or menacing : strut , swagger
did a lot of bragging and cocking after winning the game
2. : to turn, tip, or stick up
the show horse's abbreviated tail cocking almost straight up
[tubes] may be badly scratched in handling and mounting and may cock in the fixture — C.J.Phillips
a common failing with two-wheeled traps was cocking, a tendency to tip up when in use so that the shafts pointed upwards and the tailboard down — Hugh McCausland
3. : to position the hammer of a firearm for firing
transitive verb
1.
a. obsolete : to put (the match) into the cock of a matchlock gun
b. : to draw the hammer of (a firearm) fully back and set it for firing ; also : to set (the trigger) for firing
c. : to draw or bend back (as the arm, the wrist, or by extension something held in the hand) in preparation to throw or hit
a boxer with his fist cocked
a forward passer cocking his arm to throw
a ballplayer at the plate with his bat cocked
cock the wrists at the top of the backswing in golf
d. : to set a trip mechanism (as a camera shutter) for tripping
2.
a. : to set erect especially with a certain jaunty conspicuousness
a peafowl cocked its tail feathers
a dog with one ear cocked
b. : to turn, tip, or tilt usually to one side especially alertly, jauntily, or defiantly
the engine was cocked over at an angle of 60 degrees from the vertical — Eugene Jaderquist
a hat cocked over his right ear
an eye incessantly cocked on the main chance — R.L.Cook
c. : to lift and place high (as the feet)
leaning back and cocking his feet up on his desk — James Jones
3. : to turn up (as the brim of a hat)
4. of a cricket batsman : to hit or deflect (a bowled ball) in the air unintentionally and usually rather weakly — used with up
cock up an easy catch
•
- cock a snook
IV. noun
( -s )
: tilt , slant
the jaunty cock of his hat
cock of the head
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English cok, alteration (influenced by cok cock, male fowl) of God
obsolete : god — used in oaths often in the possessive form which is sometimes spelled cox
by Cock!
by Cock's soul!
by Cox bones!
VI. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English cok, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish kok pile; akin to Old High German coccho pile, Lithuanian guga pommel of a saddle, Old English cot den, cottage — more at cot
: a small pile especially of hay, dung, or turf
VII. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to put (as hay) into cocks
VIII. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English cok, from Old French coque, coche, from Medieval Latin caudica, from Latin caudic-, caudex trunk of a tree — more at code
obsolete cock-boat
IX. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably from (assumed) Old North French coquer to notch, from (assumed) Old North French, coque, n., notch — more at coak
: cog VII