cock Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun obscene terms for penis
    shaft; prick; tool; dick; putz; peter; pecker.
  2. noun faucet consisting of a rotating device for regulating flow of a liquid
    stopcock; turncock.
  3. noun the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
    hammer.
  4. noun adult male chicken
    rooster.
  5. noun adult male bird
  6. verb tilt or slant to one side
    • cock one's head
  7. verb set the trigger of a firearm back for firing
  8. verb to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others
    sashay; ruffle; tittup; strut; prance; swagger.
    • He struts around like a rooster in a hen house

WordNet

Cock noun
Etymology
AS. coc; of unkown origin, perh. in imitation of the cry of the cock. Cf. Chicken.
Definitions
  1. The male of birds, particulary of gallinaceous or domestic fowls.
  2. A vane in the shape of a cock; a weathercock.
    Drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks! Shak.
  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. Shak.
  5. A faucet or valve. ✍ Jonsons says, "The handly 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.
Cock transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. Gael. coc to cock.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Cocked ; present participle & verbal noun Cocking
Definitions
  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.
Cock intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To strut; to swagger; to look big, pert, or menacing. Addison.
Cock noun
Definitions
  1. The act of cocking; also, the turn so given; as, a cock of the eyes; to give a hat a saucy cock.
Cock noun
Etymology
It. cocca notch of an arrow.
Definitions
  1. The notch of an arrow or crossbow.
  2. The hammer in the lock of a firearm. Nares.
Cock transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To draw the hammer of (a firearm) fully back and set it for firing.
Cock intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To draw back the hammer of a firearm, and set it for firing.
    Cocked, fired, and missed his man. Byron.
Cock noun
Etymology
Cf. Icel. kökkr lump, Dan. kok heap, or E. cock to set erect.
Definitions
  1. A small concial pile of hay.
Cock transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To put into cocks or heaps, as hay.
    Under the cocked hay. Spenser.
Cock noun
Etymology
Of. coque, F. coche, a small vessel, L. concha muscle shell, a vessel. See Coach, and cf.Cog small boat.
Definitions
  1. A small boat.
    Yond tall anchoring bark [appears] Diminished to her cock; her cock, a buoy Almost too small for sight. Shak.
Cock noun
Definitions
  1. A corruption or disguise of the word God, used in oaths. Obs. "By cock and pie." Shak.

Webster 1913