Cock

COCK, n.

1. The male of birds, particularly of gallinaceous or domestic fowls, which having no appropriate or distinctive name, are called dunghill fowls or barn-door fowls.

2. A weather-cock; a vane in shape of a cock. [It is usually called a weather-cock.]

3. A spout; an instrument to draw out or discharge liquor from a cask, vat or pipe; so named from its projection.

4. The projecting corner of a hat.

5. A small conical pile of hay, so shaped for shedding rain; called in England a cop. When hay is dry and rolled together for carting, the heaps are not generally called cocks, at least not in New England. A large conical pile is called a stack.

6. The style or gnomon of a dial.

7. The needle of a balance.

8. The piece which covers the balance in a clock or watch.

9. The notch of an arrow.

10. The part of a musket or other fire arm, to which a flint is attached, and which, being impelled by a spring, strikes fire, and opens the pan at the same time.

11. A small boat. It is now called a cock-boat, which is tautology, as cock itself is a bot.

12. A leader; a chief man.

Sir Andrew is the cock of the club.

13. Cock-crowing; the time when cocks crow in the morning.

Cock a hoop, or cock on the hoop, a phrase denoting triumph; triumphant; exulting.

Cock and a bull, a phrase denoting tedious trifling stories.

COCK, v.t.

1. To set erect; to turn up; as, to cock the nose or ears.

2. To set the brim of a hat so as to make sharp corners or points; or to set up with an air of pertness.

3. To make up hay in small conical piles.

4. To set or draw back the cock of a gun, in order to fire.

COCK, v.i.

1. To hold up the head; to strut; to look big, pert, or menacing.

2. To train or use fighting cocks.

3. To cocker.