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.
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2. A vane in the shape of a cock; a weathercock.
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Drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks! --Shak.
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3. A chief man; a leader or master. [Humorous]
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Sir Andrew is the cock of the club, since he left
us. --Addison.
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4. The crow of a cock, esp. the first crow in the morning;
cockcrow. [Obs.]
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He begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock.
--Shak.
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5. A faucet or valve.
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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.
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6. The style of gnomon of a dial. --Chambers.
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7. The indicator of a balance. --Johnson.
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8. The bridge piece which affords a bearing for the pivot of
a balance in a clock or watch. --Knight.
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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} (Zool.) See {Sage cock}.
{Cock of the rock} (Zool.), 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}.
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