释义 |
cock I. \ˈkäk\ noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English cok, from Old English cocc; probably akin to obsolete Dutch cocke cock, Old Norse kokr; all of imitative origin 1. a. : the adult male of the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) — distinguished from cockerel b. : the male of birds other than the domestic fowl, especially of other gallinaceous birds c. : woodcock — usually used without regard to sex d. archaic : the crowing of a cock; also : cockcrow 1 e. : a representation of a cock; specifically : weathercock 2. : a faucet, tap, valve, or similar device for starting, stopping, or regulating the flow of a liquid < a ball cock > < a sill cock > < an automobile radiator cock > sometimes : the amount of opening permitted by or as if by a cock < a faucet turned on full cock > 3. a. : one occupying a position of success and control : victor; often : one dominating some field or leading some circle usually through determined aggressive individual effort b. : a person of pluck and spirit and often a certain swagger or arrogance < all the young cocks dashing in new uniforms > — often especially formerly used as a term of intimate address < you're sure doing fine, old cock > 4. a. in older firearms : the hammer in the lock of a firearm b. : the cocked position of the hammer < a gun at half cock > 5. a. : penis — usually considered vulgar b. chiefly South & Midland : the female pudenda — usually considered vulgar 6. a. : gnomon 1a b. : an overhanging bracket containing a bearing for a watch or clock arbor or a wheel bridge supported at one end only 7. [perhaps short for cock-and-bull story] slang Britain : nonsense, poppycock < “you were talking some awful cock about righteousness ,” the brigadier said — Bruce Marshall > • - cock of the walk II. adjective 1. : male — used of birds and sometimes of other animals < cock lobster > 2. : chief, leading, top < a cock swordsman > < a cock wencher > < his house, having been cock house at football for three years running, is very likely to be beaten next winter — Joyce Cary > III. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English cocken, from cok (I) cock, male fowl intransitive verb 1. : to act big, arrogant, or menacing : strut, swagger < did a lot of bragging and cocking after winning the game > 2. : to turn, tip, or stick up < the show horse's abbreviated tail cocking almost straight up > < [tubes] may be badly scratched in handling and mounting and may cock in the fixture — C.J.Phillips > < a common failing with two-wheeled traps was cocking, a tendency to tip up when in use so that the shafts pointed upwards and the tailboard down — Hugh McCausland > 3. : to position the hammer of a firearm for firing transitive verb 1. a. obsolete : to put (the match) into the cock of a matchlock gun b. : to draw the hammer of (a firearm) fully back and set it for firing; also : to set (the trigger) for firing c. : to draw or bend back (as the arm, the wrist, or by extension something held in the hand) in preparation to throw or hit < a boxer with his fist cocked > < a forward passer cocking his arm to throw > < a ballplayer at the plate with his bat cocked > < cock the wrists at the top of the backswing in golf > d. : to set a trip mechanism (as a camera shutter) for tripping 2. a. : to set erect especially with a certain jaunty conspicuousness < a peafowl cocked its tail feathers > < a dog with one ear cocked > b. : to turn, tip, or tilt usually to one side especially alertly, jauntily, or defiantly < the engine was cocked over at an angle of 60 degrees from the vertical — Eugene Jaderquist > < a hat cocked over his right ear > < an eye incessantly cocked on the main chance — R.L.Cook > c. : to lift and place high (as the feet) < leaning back and cocking his feet up on his desk — James Jones > 3. : to turn up (as the brim of a hat) 4. of a cricket batsman : to hit or deflect (a bowled ball) in the air unintentionally and usually rather weakly — used with up < cock up an easy catch > • - cock a snook IV. noun (-s) : tilt, slant < the jaunty cock of his hat > < cock of the head > V. noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English cok, alteration (influenced by cok cock, male fowl) of God obsolete : god — used in oaths often in the possessive form which is sometimes spelled cox < by Cock! > < by Cock's soul! > < by Coxbones! > VI. noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English cok, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish kok pile; akin to Old High German coccho pile, Lithuanian guga pommel of a saddle, Old English cot den, cottage — more at cot : a small pile especially of hay, dung, or turf VII. transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) : to put (as hay) into cocks VIII. noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English cok, from Old French coque, coche, from Medieval Latin caudica, from Latin caudic-, caudex trunk of a tree — more at code obsolete cock-boat IX. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: probably from (assumed) Old North French coquer to notch, from (assumed) Old North French, coque, n., notch — more at coak : cog VII |