- Cock of the plains
- Cock Cock (k[o^]k), n. [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.
[1913 Webster]
2. A vane in the shape of a cock; a weathercock. [1913 Webster]
Drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks! --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. A chief man; a leader or master. [Humorous] [1913 Webster]
Sir Andrew is the cock of the club, since he left us. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
4. The crow of a cock, esp. the first crow in the morning; cockcrow. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
He begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
5. A faucet or valve. [1913 Webster]
Note: 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 crit[ae] galli, i.e., in the form of a cock's comb. [1913 Webster]
6. The style of gnomon of a dial. --Chambers. [1913 Webster]
7. The indicator of a balance. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]
8. The bridge piece which affords a bearing for the pivot of a balance in a clock or watch. --Knight. [1913 Webster]
9. a penis. [vulgar] [PJC]
{Ball cock}. See under {Ball}.
{Chaparral cock}. See under {Chaparral}.
{Cock and bull story}, {an extravagant}, boastful story; a canard.
{Cock of the plains} (Zo["o]l.) See {Sage cock}.
{Cock of the rock} (Zo["o]l.), 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}. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
