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cock

noun (1)
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\ ˈkäk How to pronounce cock (audio) \

Definition of cock

 (Entry 1 of 5)

1a : the adult male of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) : rooster
b : the male of birds other than the domestic chicken
c : woodcock
d archaic : the crowing of a cock also : cockcrow
e : weathercock
2 : a device (such as a faucet or valve) for regulating the flow of a liquid the cock of an automobile radiator
3a : a chief person : leader
b : a person of spirit and often of a certain swagger or arrogance
4a : the hammer in the lock of a firearm
b : the cocked position of the hammer
5 usually vulgar : penis
cock of the walk
: one that dominates a group or situation especially overbearingly He was strutting around like the cock of the walk after he got a promotion.

cock

verb (1)
cocked; cocking; cocks

Definition of cock (Entry 2 of 5)

intransitive verb

1 : strut, swagger did a lot of bragging and cocking after winning the game
2 : to turn, tip, or stick up a horse's tail cocking almost straight up
3 : to position the hammer (see hammer entry 1 sense 2b(2)) of a firearm for firing

transitive verb

1a : to draw the hammer of (a firearm) back and set for firing also : to set (the trigger) for firing
b : to draw or bend back in preparation for throwing or hitting a quarterback cocking his arm cock a bat
c : to set (a mechanism, such as a camera shutter) for tripping (see trip entry 1 sense transitive 3)
2a : to set erect a dog with one ear cocked
b : to turn, tip, or tilt usually to one side cock one's head
3 : to turn up (something, such as a hat brim)
cock a snook or less commonly cock snooks
: to thumb one's nose cocking a snook at the establishment

cock

noun (2)

Definition of cock (Entry 3 of 5)

: tilt, slant cock of the head the jaunty cock of his hat

cock

noun (3)

Definition of cock (Entry 4 of 5)

: a small pile (as of hay)

cock

verb (2)
cocked; cocking; cocks

Definition of cock (Entry 5 of 5)

transitive verb

: to put (hay or something similar) into small piles

Synonyms for cock

Synonyms: Noun (1)

Synonyms: Verb (1)

Synonyms: Noun (2)

Synonyms: Noun (3)

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First Known Use of cock

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1575, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1717, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for cock

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

Middle English cok, from Old English cocc, of imitative origin

Noun (3)

Middle English cok; akin to German dialect Kocke pile

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Time Traveler for cock

Time Traveler

The first known use of cock was before the 12th century

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Statistics for cock

Last Updated

27 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Cock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cock. Accessed 26 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for cock

cock

noun
\ ˈkäk How to pronounce cock (audio) \

Kids Definition of cock

 (Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a male bird : rooster
2 : a faucet or valve for controlling the flow of a liquid or a gas

cock

verb
cocked; cocking

Kids Definition of cock (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : to turn or tip upward or to one side The puppy cocked her head when she heard your voice.
2 : to set or draw back in readiness for some action Watch how I cock my arm to throw.
3 : to draw back the hammer of (a gun) in readiness for firing

cock

noun

Kids Definition of cock (Entry 3 of 3)

: the act of tipping or turning at an angle : tilt a cock of the head

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More from Merriam-Webster on cock

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cock

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with cock

Spanish Central: Translation of cock

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cock

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