Cock

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

See Also

Cox, Alectry, Roost