cock

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈkäk 

1

a

: 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

3

a

: a chief person : leader

b

: a person of spirit and often of a certain swagger or arrogance

4

a

: the hammer in the lock of a firearm

b

: the cocked position of the hammer

5

usually vulgar : penis

cock

2 of 5

verb (1)

cocked; cocking; cocks

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

1

a

: 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)

2

a

: 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

3 of 5

noun (2)

: tilt, slant

cock of the head

the jaunty cock of his hat

cock

4 of 5

noun (3)

: a small pile (as of hay)

cock

5 of 5

verb (2)

cocked; cocking; cocks

transitive verb

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

Phrases

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 a snook or less commonly cock snooks

: to thumb one's nose

cocking a snook at the establishment

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• faucet
• gate
• spigot
• stopcock
• tap
• valve

Verb (1)

• angle
• cant
• heel
• incline
• lean
• list
• pitch
• slant
• slope
• tilt
• tip

Noun (2)

• angling
• bend
• inclination
• list
• tilt
• tip

Noun (3)

• heap
• hill
• mound
• mountain
• pile
• stack

Examples of cock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

At one point earlier in the evening, Phil had cocked the trigger and aimed the weapon at John’s head. —Jordan Runtagh, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023

Herman Sharabi and Shani pleaded with the militants not to take them, but one of the militants cocked his gun. —Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2023

In a private fitting room concealed behind a section of curved wall, director of central alterations Jose Nolasco measures with the speed and sweeping precision of an orchestra conductor, deftly squaring shoulders, raising arms, plucking and pinning and cocking his head. —Josh Condon, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2023

When fully cocked, the bow measures a scant 6.5 inches in width. —Tony Hansen, Field & Stream, 3 Aug. 2023

With one eye cocked on summer and the other looking forward to fall, Saturday — with a high of 81 degrees and a low of 58 — displayed aspects of each. —Martin Weil, Washington Post, 17 Sep. 2023

When cocked, the bow is just 3.6 inches in width and only 7.6 inches uncocked. —Tony Hansen, Field & Stream, 3 Aug. 2023

When fully cocked the bow measures a scant 6.5 inches in width. —Tony Hansen, Field & Stream, 19 July 2023

For months, Lithuania’s leaders have been calling for more arms and military aid for Ukraine, and have cocked a skeptical brow at any hint of concession or softening toward the Kremlin. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 11 July 2023

Noun

The former became fighting cocks and the latter became sows. —Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 6 June 2023

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Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Verb (1)

1542, 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

Phrases Containing cock

• ball cock
• cock-a-doodle-do
• chaparral cock
• cock-a-leekie
• cock-a-hoop
• cock-and-bull story
• cock of the walk
• cock a snook
• turkey-cock
• go off at half cock
• half cock
• cock-up
• cock-block
• cock a snook at
• cock snooks
• cock-blocking
• cock-blocker

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• ball cock
• cock-a-doodle-do
• chaparral cock
• cock-a-leekie
• cock-a-hoop
• cock-and-bull story
• cock of the walk
• cock a snook
• turkey-cock
• go off at half cock
• half cock
• cock-up
• cock-block
• cock a snook at
• cock snooks
• cock-blocking
• cock-blocker

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Kids Definition

cock

1 of 4 noun

ˈkäk 

1

: the adult male of a bird and especially the domestic chicken

2

: a device (as a faucet or valve) for controlling the flow of a liquid

3

: the cocked position of the hammer of a firearm

a rifle at half cock

cock

2 of 4 verb

1

a

: to draw back the hammer of (a gun) in readiness for firing

cock a pistol

b

: to set or draw back in readiness for some action

cock your arm to throw

2

: to turn, tip, or tilt upward or to one side

cock one's head

cock

3 of 4 noun

: tilt entry 2 sense 4, slant

a cock of the head

cock

4 of 4 noun

: a small pile (as of hay)

Etymology

Noun

Old English cocc "cock, rooster"; probably in imitation of the sound it makes

Noun

Middle English cok "small pile"