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,
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,
1. To hold up the head to strut to look big, pert, or menacing.
2. To train or use fighting cocks.
3. To cocker.