Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Cock
Cock
(kŏk)
, Noun.
[AS.
coc
; of unknown origin, perh. in imitation of the cry of the cock. Cf. Chicken
.] 1.
The male of birds, particularly of gallinaceous or domestic fowls.
2.
A vane in the shape of a cock; a weathercock.
Drenched our steeples, drowned the
cocks
! Shakespeare
3.
A chief man; a leader or master.
[Humorous]
Sir Andrew is the
cock
of the club, since he left us. Addison.
4.
The crow of a cock, esp. the first crow in the morning; cockcrow.
[Obs.]
He begins at curfew, and walks till the first
cock
. Shakespeare
5.
A faucet or valve.
☞ Jonsons says, “The handle probably had a cock on the top; things that were contrived to turn seem anciently to have had that form, whatever was the reason.” Skinner says, because it used to be constructed in forma critæ galli, i.e., in the form of a cock’s comb.
6.
The style of gnomon of a dial.
Chambers.
7.
The indicator of a balance.
Johnson.
8.
The bridge piece which affords a bearing for the pivot of a balance in a clock or watch.
Knight.
Ball cock
. See under
– Ball
. Chaparral cock
. See under
– Chaparral
. Cock and bull story
, an extravagant
boastful story; a canard.
– Cock of the plains
(Zool.)
See
– Sage cock
. Cock of the rock
(Zool.)
, a South American bird (
– Rupicola aurantia
) having a beautiful crest. Cock of the walk
, a chief or master; the hero of the hour; one who has overcrowed, or got the better of, rivals or competitors.
– Cock of the woods
. See
Capercailzie
.Cock
(kŏk)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Cocked
(kŏkt)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Cocking
.] [Cf. Gael.
coc
to cock.] 1.
To set erect; to turn up.
Our Lightfoot barks, and
cocks
his ears. Gay.
Dick would
cock
his nose in scorn. Swift.
2.
To shape, as a hat, by turning up the brim.
3.
To set on one side in a pert or jaunty manner.
They
cocked
their hats in each other's faces. Macaulay.
4.
To turn (the eye) obliquely and partially close its lid, as an expression of derision or insinuation.
Cocked hat
. (a)
A hat with large, stiff flaps turned up to a peaked crown, thus making its form triangular; – called also
three-cornered hat
. (b)
A game similar to ninepins, except that only three pins are used, which are set up at the angles of a triangle.
Cock
,Verb.
I.
To strut; to swagger; to look big, pert, or menacing.
Addison.
Cock
,Noun.
The act of cocking; also, the turn so given;
as, a
. cock
of the eyes; to give a hat a saucy cock
Cock
,Noun.
[It.
cocca
notch of an arrow.] 1.
The notch of an arrow or crossbow.
2.
The hammer in the lock of a firearm.
At cock
, At full cock
with the hammer raised and ready to fire; – said of firearms, also, jocularly, of one prepared for instant action.
– At half cock
. See under
– Half
. Cock feather
(Archery)
, the feather of an arrow at right angles to the direction of the cock or notch.
Nares.
Cock
,Verb.
T.
To draw the hammer of (a firearm) fully back and set it for firing.
Cock
,Verb.
I.
To draw back the hammer of a firearm, and set it for firing.
Cocked
, fired, and missed his man. Byron.
Cock
,Noun.
[Cf. Icel.
kökkr
lump, Dan. kok
heap, or E. cock
to set erect.] A small concial pile of hay.
Cock
,Verb.
T.
To put into cocks or heaps, as hay.
Under the
cocked
hay. Spenser.
Cock
,Noun.
A corruption or disguise of the word God, used in oaths.
[Obs.]
“By cock and pie.” Shak.
Webster 1828 Edition
Cock
COCK
, n.1.
The male of birds, particularly of gallinaceous or domestic fowls, which having no appropriate or distinctive name, are called dunghill fowls or barn-door fowls.2.
A weather-cock; a vane in shape of a cock. [It is usually called a weather-cock.]3.
A spout; an instrument to draw out or discharge liquor from a cask, vat or pipe; so named from its projection.4.
The projecting corner of a hat.5.
A small conical pile of hay, so shaped for shedding rain; called in England a cop. When hay is dry and rolled together for carting, the heaps are not generally called cocks, at least not in New England. A large conical pile is called a stack.6.
The style or gnomon of a dial.7.
The needle of a balance.8.
The piece which covers the balance in a clock or watch.9.
The notch of an arrow.10.
The part of a musket or other fire arm, to which a flint is attached, and which, being impelled by a spring, strikes fire, and opens the pan at the same time.11.
A small boat. It is now called a cock-boat, which is tautology, as cock itself is a bot.12.
A leader; a chief man.Sir Andrew is the cock of the club.
13.
Cock-crowing; the time when cocks crow in the morning.Cock a hoop, or cock on the hoop, a phrase denoting triumph; triumphant; exulting.
Cock and a bull, a phrase denoting tedious trifling stories.
COCK
, v.t.1.
To set erect; to turn up; as, to cock the nose or ears.2.
To set the brim of a hat so as to make sharp corners or points; or to set up with an air of pertness.3.
To make up hay in small conical piles.4.
To set or draw back the cock of a gun, in order to fire.COCK
, v.i.1.
To hold up the head; to strut; to look big, pert, or menacing.2.
To train or use fighting cocks.3.
To cocker.