cock

I. noun Etymology: Middle English cok, from Old English cocc, of imitative origin Date: before 12th century 1. a. the adult male of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) b. the male of birds other than the domestic chicken c. woodcock d. archaic the crowing of a cock; also cockcrow e. weathercock 2. a device (as a faucet or valve) for regulating the flow of a liquid 3. a. a chief person ; leader b. a person of spirit and often of a certain swagger or arrogance 4. a. the hammer in the lock of a firearm b. the cocked position of the hammer 5. usually vulgar penis II. verb Date: 1575 intransitive verb 1. strut, swagger 2. to turn, tip, or stick up 3. to position the hammer of a firearm for firing transitive verb 1. a. to draw the hammer of (a firearm) back and set for firing; also to set (the trigger) for firing b. to draw or bend back in preparation for throwing or hitting <

a quarterback cocking his arm

> <

cock a bat

> c. to set a mechanism (as a camera shutter) for tripping 2. a. to set erect <

a dog with one ear cocked

> b. to turn, tip, or tilt usually to one side <

cock one's head

> 3. to turn up (as a hat brim) III. noun Date: 1717 tilt, slant <

cock of the head

> IV. noun Etymology: Middle English cok; akin to German dialect Kocke pile Date: 14th century a small pile (as of hay) V. transitive verb Date: 14th century to put (as hay) into cocks