cock
cock
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "cock" is /kɒk/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds:
k: Voiceless velar stop
ɒ: Open-mid back rounded vowel
k: Voiceless velar stop
Word Form Variations
The word "cock" has several word form variations, including:
cock (singular noun)
cocks (plural noun)
It's important to note that "cock" also functions as a verb (meaning to set or prepare something, like a gun, or to tilt something upwards). The verb forms include:
cock (base form)
cocks (third-person singular present)
cocked (past tense and past participle)
cocking (present participle)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
A male chicken (gallinaceous bird).
Synonyms: rooster, cockerel
Antonyms: hen, pullet
A device that controls the flow of a liquid or gas; a valve or tap.
Synonyms: valve, spigot, tap, faucet, stopcock
Antonyms: (Less direct antonyms, as there isn't a perfect opposite) blockage, obstruction
(Informal) A proud or swaggering manner. (This usage is less common)
Synonyms: arrogance, swagger, conceit, pomposity
Antonyms: humility, modesty
(Obsolete) A small boat. (Rarely used)
Synonyms: skiff, dinghy, rowboat
Antonyms: (Depends on the size of the boat being contrasted) ship, liner
Verb:
To set or prepare (something, especially a firearm) for use.
Synonyms: prime, prepare, ready, arm
Antonyms: disarm, uncock, deactivate
To tilt or turn (something) upwards or to one side.
Synonyms: raise, elevate, incline, turn up
Antonyms: lower, depress, straighten
(Of a male bird, especially a rooster) To crow.
Synonyms: crow, call, announce
Antonyms: (Difficult to find a direct antonym for the act of crowing) be silent
It's important to be aware of the context in which "cock" is used, as some meanings are more common than others, and as mentioned previously, some have vulgar connotations.
Examples of Use
Noun (Male Chicken):
"The old cock strutted around the farmyard, surveying his domain." (General public discourse)
"A prize-winning cock was displayed at the county fair." (Newspaper article - hypothetical example)
"The sound of the cock's crow woke the sleeping village." (Literary example - hypothetical)
Noun (Valve/Tap):
"He turned the cock to stop the flow of water." (General public discourse)
"The plumber replaced the leaky cock in the bathroom." (Online forum/DIY website - hypothetical)
"A brass cock controlled the gas supply to the Bunsen burner." (Scientific publication/textbook - hypothetical)
Verb (Prepare/Set):
"He cocked the hammer of the pistol, ready to fire." (Literary example - could be found in a thriller or Western)
"She cocked her head, listening intently to the music." (General public discourse/Literary example)
"The soldiers cocked their rifles as they approached the enemy." (Historical account/War movie - hypothetical)
Verb (Tilt/Turn Upwards):
"He cocked his hat at a jaunty angle." (Literary example)
"She cocked an eyebrow in surprise." (General public discourse/Literary example)
"The dog cocked its ears, trying to identify the source of the noise." (General public discourse)
10 Famous Quotes Using Cock
"We rise at first cock." — William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
"The cock that crows too early finds his neck wrung by supper." — Spanish Proverb
"The cock is the herald of the dawn." — Geoffrey Chaucer
"Every cock crows on his own dunghill." — French Proverb
"The cock does not crow because the sun rises, but the sun rises because the cock crows." — Japanese Proverb (satirical saying about self-importance)
"It is the early cock that gets the worm." — English Proverb
"A loud cock crows but lays no eggs." — Russian Proverb
"Even a blind cock finds a grain once in a while." — Latin Proverb
"The cock may crow, but it’s the hen that lays the egg." — Margaret Thatcher (comment on leadership and credit)
"When the cock crows on the dunghill, the weather will change or remain as it is still." — Old English Weather Rhyme
Etymology
The word "cock" has a pretty interesting and somewhat murky history. It's thought to have originated from an Old English word, cocc, which referred specifically to a male bird, especially a rooster. This connection to roosters is its earliest known meaning, and it's likely an onomatopoeia – meaning the word sounds a bit like the rooster's crow (think "cock-a-doodle-doo").
The first recorded uses of "cock" in written English show up around the 13th and 14th centuries, and they almost always relate to roosters. Think of phrases like "the cock crows" or descriptions of "a proud cock." Over time, the word expanded its meaning. Because roosters were seen as symbols of power and dominance, "cock" also started being used to refer to anything that was prominent or stood out.
This led to the use of "cock" for other things. For example, the "cock" of a gun (the hammer) got its name because it resembled the head of a rooster. Similarly, a "stopcock" or "faucet" got its name because it was a prominent, controlling part of a system, much like the rooster was seen as the "boss" of the henhouse.
It's important to remember that some of the more vulgar meanings of "cock" also developed over time, likely from the association with male animals and virility. However, those meanings are separate from the word's original etymology, which is firmly rooted in the image of a rooster.
So, in short, "cock" originally meant rooster, and its other meanings branched out from that central image of a proud, dominant male bird. It's a word with a long history and a variety of meanings, some of which are quite different from its original, innocent connection to barnyard fowl.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Cock
Finding commonly used idioms and phrases with "cock" (in its non-vulgar sense) is surprisingly difficult. The word's more common meanings (rooster, valve) don't lend themselves easily to figurative language. And, as we've discussed, the vulgar connotations often overshadow the others.
Directly Using "Cock":
cock of the walk: This is probably the most well-known. It refers to someone who is arrogant and self-assertive, like a rooster strutting around. It directly relates to the rooster image.
cock-a-doodle-doo: This is the classic onomatopoeic representation of a rooster's crow, so it's a phrase everyone knows, but not an idiom in the sense of having a hidden meaning.
Why So Few?
The problem is that the literal meanings of "cock" (rooster, valve/tap, hammer of a gun) aren't concepts that readily translate into figurative language. We don't often use roosters or valves in metaphors the way we use hearts or minds.
Phrases and Idioms with Synonyms or Related Concepts (to give you the flavor of how "cock" might be used if it were more common in idiomatic expressions):
Strut like a peacock: This captures the same sense of arrogance as "cock of the walk," but with a different (and perhaps more visually striking) bird.
Turn on the tap: This is a literal phrase, but it plays on the "cock" as a valve. We could imagine an idiom like "He turned on the tap of his emotions," meaning he suddenly became expressive, though this is not a standard phrase.
Ready and primed: This captures the sense of "cocking" a gun, meaning prepared for action. We might say, "The team was primed for the game," meaning they were ready.
At the ready: Similar to "primed," this indicates preparedness, like a gun that is cocked.
Head held high: This captures the sense of pride and confidence associated with a rooster. We might say, "She walked in with her head held high," meaning she was confident.
Stick out your chest: This is another way to express confidence and pride, similar to how a rooster might puff out its chest.
Original/Hypothetical Phrases (to illustrate potential usage if it were more common):
"He cocked an ear at the strange noise." (Relates to the tilting/turning meaning.)
"The deal was cocked and ready to go." (Relates to the "prepared" meaning.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of cock from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
