Cock

Cock, kok, n. the male of birds, particularly of the domestic fowl: the time of cock-crowing: a weathercock: a plucky chap, a term of familiarity, as 'Old cock:' a strutting chief or leader: anything set erect: a tap for liquor: part of the lock of a gun, held back by a spring, which, when released by the trigger, produces the discharge.—v.t. to set erect or upright: to set up, as the hat: to draw back the cock of a gun: to turn up to one side: to tilt up knowingly, inquiringly, or scornfully.—v.i. to strut: to swagger.—ns. Cockāde′, a knot of ribbons or something similar worn on the hat as a badge; Cockalō′rum, a bumptious little person: a boy's game; Cock′-broth, the broth made from a boiled cock; Cock′chafer, the May-bug, an insect of a pitchy-black colour, most destructive to vegetation; Cock′-crow, -ing, early morning, the time at which cocks crow.—adj. Cocked, set erect: turned up at one side.—ns. Cock′er, one who follows cock-fighting: a small dog of the spaniel kind employed by sportsmen in pheasant and woodcock shooting; Cock′erel, a young cock: a young man—also Cock′le, whence Cock′le-brained, foolish; Cock′-eye, a squinting eye: the loop by which a trace is attached to the whipple-tree.—adj. Cock′-eyed.—ns. Cock′-fight, -ing, a fight or contest between game-cocks: a fight; Cock′-horse, a child's rocking-horse.—adj. prancing, proud.—adv. properly a-cock-horse = on cock-horse, on horseback: exultingly.—ns. Cock′laird (Scot.), a yeoman; Cock′loft, the room in a house next the roof; Cock′-match, a cock-fight; Cock′pit, a pit or enclosed space where game-cocks fought: a room in a ship-of-war for the wounded during an action; Cock′roach, the common black beetle; Cocks′comb, the comb or crest on a cock's head: a fop: the name of various plants; Cock′shut (Shak.), twilight, probably referring to the time when poultry are shut up; Cock′-shy, a free throw at a thing, as for amusement.—adj. Cock′-sure, quite sure, often without cause.—n. Cock′swain (see Coxswain).—adjs. Cock′sy, Cox′y, bumptious.—n. Cock′tail, a racing horse that is not thoroughbred: one who apes the gentleman: (U.S.) a drink of spirits flavoured with various ingredients.—adjs. Cock′tailed, having the tail cocked or tilted up; Cock′y, impudent.—ns. Cock′y-leek′y, soup made of a fowl boiled with leeks; Cock′yolly, a nursery or pet name for a bird.—Cock-a-doodle-doo, the cry of the cock; Cock-a-hoop, a phrase expressing reckless exultation; Cock and pie, used as an exclamation (see Pie, 2); Cocked hat, the old-fashioned three-cornered hat, the triangular pointed hat worn as part of some full-dress uniforms: a note folded into a three-cornered shape; Cock of the walk, chief of a set; Cock's-foot grass, a genus of grasses very abundant in Britain, and furnishing an important part of both natural and artificial pastures; Cock the eye (coll., humorous), to wink.—A cock-and-bull story, an incredible tale.—Full-cock, when the cock of a gun is drawn full back: when a tap is full open; Half-cock, the position of the cock of a gun when drawn back half the whole distance.—Knock into a cocked hat, 'to lick out of shape:' to give a profound beating. [A.S. coc; Ice. kokkr.]