ˈkäkə.trə̇s, .-ˌtris, chiefly Brit -rīs noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English cocatrice, from Middle French cocatris ichneumon, crocodile, cockatrice, from Medieval Latin cocatric-, cocatrix ichneumon, perhaps alteration (influenced by Latin cocodrilus, crocodilus crocodile) of Late Latin calcatric-, calcatrix trampler, from Latin calcare to tread, fr calc-, calx heel — more at calk
1. : a legendary serpent with deadly glance said to be hatched by a reptile from a cock's egg on a dunghill and often conceived of and represented especially in heraldry as having the head, wings, and legs of a cock and the tail of a serpent — compare basilisk
2. : an extremely offensive especially pernicious person
3. obsolete : prostitute