| 释义 |
cockatoon. Origin: Apparently a borrowing from Dutch. Etymon: Dutch kaketoe. Etymology: Apparently < Dutch kaketoe, kakatoe, †kakketoe, †kakatoewa, †kakatoeha (although this is apparently first attested later: 1662) < Malay kakatua (14th cent.), of uncertain origin (probably ultimately imitative of the call of the bird).Forms history. In δ. forms < Portuguese cacatua (1561 as çagatua; < Malay). Compare Italian cacatua (1708) and Spanish cacatúa (early 19th cent.), both < Portuguese. In ε. forms < Dutch †cacadu (1694) < German Kakadu (17th cent.; itself < Dutch kakatoe ). The origin of the β. and γ. forms (the former attested only with reference to the macaw) is unclear. Forms in coc- apparently show alteration after cock n.1 Specific senses. The motivation of sense 3 is uncertain; it has usually been sought in one or another aspect of the birds' behaviour (compare sense 2, and also cockatoo v. 2). In sense 4 with reference to the name of the Cockatoo Island (compare Cockatoo Islander in quot. 1841 at the sense). the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Psittaciformes (parrots, etc.) > [noun] > cockatoo 1634 T. Herbert 212 Cacatoes (Birds like Parrats, fierce, and indomitable). 1707 W. Funnell ix. 265 The Crockadore is a Bird of various sizes... When they fly wild up and down the Woods, they will call Crockadore, Crockadore; for which reason they go by that name. 1850 4 183 Cockatoo, Malay Kakatuwah—a vice, a gripe, and also the name of the bird, no doubt referring to its powerful bill. 1936 A. Russell x. 83 Snow-white cockatoos flashed in flocks across the stream, green 'keets screeched among the gums. 2012 D. Quammen xli. 217 Burnet ordered himself a crate of parrots and cockatoos from Adelaide. the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > [noun] > one who watches or keeps guard 1827 P. Cunningham (ed. 2) II. xiii. 288 It being a common trick to station a sentinel on a commanding eminence to give the alarm, while all the others divert themselves, or go to sleep. Such are known here by the name of ‘cockatoo-gangs’, from following the example of that wary bird. 1843 23 Mar. 2/5 Through the promptitude of Alderman Russell in watching the movements of a certain little Cockatoo left in the shop, his bolting was to be ‘no go’. 1930 18 Dec. 13/7 The police stated that Pugh was a ‘cockatoo’—a man who kept watch while others committed the robberies. 1945 S. J. Baker vii. 141 Hotel licensees who indulge in after-hours trading often pay a cockatoo to warn them of the approach of police. 2013 5 Oct. 98/2 The trainer and his assistant..disappeared into the stable as a ‘cockatoo’, who was also the truck driver, locked the gate and stood watch. the world > food and drink > farming > farmer > [noun] > small farmer 1844 13 Mar. In the neighbourhood of Port Fairy, the settlers have been particularly fortunate, and particularly that class denominated ‘cockatoo’ squatters, located on a portion of Mr. Atkinson's survey. 1853 F. J. Cockburn Let. in (1856) 32 The Colonial term for a small cultivator is ‘Cockatoo’, as the Cockatoos scrape the outside of the trees for grub. 1874 M. A. Barker xv. 110 The small farmers are called Cockatoos in Australia by the squatters..who..say that, like a cockatoo, the small freeholder alights on good ground, extracts all he can from it, and then flies away. 1941 O. Duff iv. 51 The most they [sc. sheepfarmers] can hope for is an uneasy truce with dairymen..or an alliance with Labour to control the ‘cockatoos’. 1992 E. Hatch ii. 27 In 1882, a technological development occurred that changed the economic fortune of New Zealand and fundamentally altered the relationship between squatter and cockatoo. 1841 14 July 2/5 Cockatoo Islanders…A report was forwarded to the proper authority in Sydney, from Cockatoo Island, that two of the convicts..had effected their escape.] 1846 26 Sept. 3/1 Robert Hunter, an accomplished Cockatoo, was charged with robbing Mr J.R. Torr, of Miller's Point, of two seals. 1851 H. Melville 88 The Cockatoos are, in fact, the gaol-birds of New South Wales. 1870 J. L. Burke viii. 123 He's the bravest man that could choose from Sydney men or Cockatoos... This name was applied to a body of desperate men, who were imprisoned on Cockatoo Island..under a strong military guard. Compounds C1. General use as a modifier; also with other nouns, with the sense ‘that is a cockatoo’. a. 1804 Feb. 63/1 This [sc. the red-crested cockatoo] is in general the largest of the cockatoo family, being nearly a foot and a half in length. 1888 D. V. Lucas 78 The most beautiful of the cockatoo species is the corella, or, as he is called by some, ‘Leadbeater's cockatoo’. 1906 N. T. Thomas iv. 67 The Mara..use cockatoo feathers or the bright red, yellow, and green feathers of the mountain parakeet. 1954 ‘B. Poe’ xi. 100 Some of the best-known cockatoo pets are the rose-crested cockatoo..and the leadbeater's cockatoo. 2012 (Nexis) 30 Oct. 19 This cockatoo chick defied the odds—and immigration officials—to be born in Cornwall last week. the world > food and drink > farming > farmer > [noun] > small farmer 1844 13 Mar. In the neighbourhood of Port Fairy, the settlers have been particularly fortunate, and particularly that class denominated ‘cockatoo’ squatters, located on a portion of Mr. Atkinson's survey. 1845 9 Sept. 3/5 It appears that the agreement between these ‘Cockatoo settlers’ and their landlord, was merely verbal. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ III. xliii. 281 The governor is a bigoted agriculturist; he has contracted the cockatoo complaint, I'm afraid. 1897 I. Scott i. 7 We'll..get a job on a ‘Cockatoo’ farm somewhere. 1967 A. B. Paterson in C. Semmler 43 D'ye think we were blanked cockatoo selectors! 2003 R. Tremain 98 The barn contained dogs..of the kind cockatoo farmers kept to kill weka and kea and retrieve pigeons. 1876 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer xviii, in 16 Dec. 982/3 The cockatoo stockmen, who are doing the ‘reviewing’, safely on the fence. C2. the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > a barrier > [noun] > hedge or fence > a fence > fence made of logs and saplings 1842 12 Jan. We observed fields beautifully ploughed, protected from trespass by nothing else than what is familiarly known as the cockatoo fence. 1884 ‘R. Boldrewood’ III. xxii. 281 There would be roads and cockatoo fences,..in short, all the hostile emblems of agricultural settlement. 1901 M. Franklin viii. 60 The wire fence..had replaced an old cockatoo fence which I remembered in my childhood. 2013 31 33 Dog-leg and cockatoo fences were widely used by selectors and squatters in colonial Australia in the early years of developing their selections and runs. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2019; most recently modified version published online June 2022). cockatoov.Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: cockatoo n. Etymology: < cockatoo n. Compare cockatooer n. 1852 [implied in: L. A. Meredith II. 137 ‘Cockatooers’..are not..a species of bird, but human beings who rent portions of this forest from the proprietors..and vainly endeavour to exist on what they can earn. (at cockatooer n.)]. 1870 H. C. R. Johnson xvi. 139 Pedro had..started ‘cockatooing’, or agricultural farming in a small way, on his own account. 1876 J. B. Stephens 184 The Government under which I ‘cockatooed’. 1896 C. J. O'Regan 30 They tell me you're now ‘cockatooing’, And worried to death, I suppose, With striving and riving and sueing. 1935 13 Apr. 16/6 He had been ‘cockatooing’ near Auckland, he told us, having great fun shooting wild pigs and deer. 1876 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer xviii, in 16 Dec. 982/2 The correct thing, on first arriving at a drafting yard, is to ‘cockatoo’, or sit on the rails. 1894 E. Turner xvii. 194 Everybody else had gone to ‘cockatoo’—to sit on the top rail of the inclosure and look down at the maddened creatures. the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > watch or keep guard [verb (intransitive)] > perform duty of watchman 1935 28 May 3/3 He said that the evidence showed that the licensee had been ‘cockatooing’ at the front door. 1949 L. Glassop 99 Well, if it isn't my old mate, ‘Darky’ Sneddon, who used to keep nit for Clarrie Simpson at Bindarra in the old days. Still cockatooing, eh, ‘Darky’? 1954 L. H. Evers 216 You'd better stay down and cockatoo for us today. 2000 12 Jan. 17/5 We always had someone to ‘cockatoo’ (stand watch) in case we were raided. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022). <  n.1634 v.1852 |
