cock

1 of 5

noun (1)

1
a
: the adult male of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) : rooster
b
: the male of birds other than the domestic chicken
c
d
archaic : the crowing of a cock
also : cockcrow
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

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near cock

Cite this Entry

“Cock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cock. Accessed 22 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

cock

1 of 4 noun
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)

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