Morpheme
Cock
Type
free base
Denotation
male bird, fellow, man, chap, upright, alert
Etymology
Middle English cok; Old English coc, cocc
Evidence
acock, bibcock, blackcock, cock, cockbird, cocked, cockier, cockiest, cockily, cockiness, cocking, cocks, cockscomb, cocky, cocky, decock, recock, roostcock, uncock, weathercock
Notes
upright and alert sense developed from the way that a rooster holds its head upright while strutting around