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

Examples of cock in a Sentence

Noun (1) an automobile radiator cock Verb (1) cocked his head to the side as he listened to her quizzically Noun (2) a slight cock of his head suggested that he was listening in on our conversation Noun (3) a cock of hay
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
With his guitar held high and against his chest, his eyebrows cocked in that way that could be quizzical or menacing depending upon the setting, Matthews unleashed his quirky vocals. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024 Bell says, cocking her head and narrowing her eyes at her friend and co-star. Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024
Noun
In the rank and file of men showering the cocks and balls took on the air almost of an independent species, exhibited in instructive contrasts. Charles McGrath, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2024 The story is told from Dah’s perspective, as Jocelyn—who displays a quasi-mystical rapport with fighting cocks—suffers an emotional breakdown, putting their business and their lives in danger. The New Yorker, 26 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for cock 

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 14 Nov. 2024.

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)
Etymology

Noun

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

Noun

Middle English cok "small pile"

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