noun Common

cock

kok

Cock (noun) means an adult male chicken; a rooster. Example: “The cock crowed at dawn.”

noun

An adult male chicken; a rooster.

"The cock crowed at dawn."

A valve or tap that controls the flow of liquid or gas.

"He turned the stopcock to shut off the water."

Vulgar slang: a penis.

"(vulgar slang, generally avoided in formal writing)"

verb

To tilt or raise something at an angle, or to pull back the hammer of a gun ready to fire.

"He cocked his head, listening carefully."

"She cocked the pistol before stepping through the door."

How to use cock

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPrimarily the word for a male chicken and for tilting something (like a head or a gun hammer); also common crude slang for a penis.

When to use it

The bird and valve/gun senses are standard English; the anatomical sense is vulgar and best avoided in formal contexts.

Common pairings

cock a gun cock an eyebrow a stopcock

Word forms

cocked past tense, cocked past tense, cocks plural, cocks plural, cocks plural, cocks singular, cocks singular

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Etymology

From Old English cocc, most likely imitating the bird's crowing sound; the vulgar sense for "penis" has been in use since at least the 1600s.

Origin: Old English · First attested 1600

Class of 1600 cock joined the language around 1600.

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Synonyms

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cockbird rooster

Related words

man informant rooster cockbird

Rhymes for cock

ock mock rock lock sock dock bock hock jock tock clock stock

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Frequently asked questions

What does “cock” mean?

The word “cock” means an adult male chicken; a rooster.

How do you pronounce “cock”?

“Cock” is pronounced kok (/kɑk/ in IPA).

How do you use “cock” in a sentence?

Here is “cock” used in a sentence: “The cock crowed at dawn.”

What is another word for “cock”?

Words with a similar meaning to “cock” include cockbird and rooster.

What part of speech is “cock”?

Depending on how it is used, “cock” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “cock” come from?

The word “cock” dates back to around 1600 and comes from Old English.

Is “cock” a common word?

“Cock” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “cock” have?

“Cock” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an adult male chicken; a rooster.

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