cock
B2The literal meaning (male bird) is neutral and formal. Most other meanings are informal, slang, or vulgar, and require caution in usage.
Definition
Meaning
A male bird, especially a rooster.
A term with various slang meanings, notably as a vulgar term for a penis or as a crude term for a man. Also used in some compound words (e.g., 'cockpit') and as a verb meaning to tilt or pull back.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word exists in a strong taboo-vs-neutral polarity. Its primary neutral meaning (rooster) is familiar but less common in everyday urban contexts. The vulgar slang meaning is highly frequent and dominant in many minds, often causing ambiguity or offense if the neutral meaning is used without clear context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The literal meaning 'rooster' is more common in UK English; 'rooster' is the preferred term in US English for the bird to avoid ambiguity. The verb 'to cock' (e.g., cock a gun) is used in both. The slang/vulgar meanings are identical.
Connotations
In the UK, 'cock' is also an archaic/literary term for a leader or chief (e.g., 'cock of the walk') and can be a dated, friendly form of address in some dialects ('Alright, cock?'). In the US, the neutral meaning is largely avoided due to the overwhelming strength of the vulgar connotation.
Frequency
In US English, the word is used almost exclusively in its slang/vulgar sense, in the verb sense, or in fixed compounds (cockpit, cocky, peacock). In UK English, the neutral avian meaning is more readily understood but still carries potential for unintended humour or offense.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
cock + [object: gun, head, hat, ear]cock + [prepositional phrase: at someone]be + cocked + [prepositional phrase: to one side]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cock of the walk”
- “cock a snook at”
- “cock and bull story”
- “at half cock”
- “live like a fighting cock”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare and risky; would only appear in fixed names (e.g., company name 'Weathercock Ltd').
Academic
Possible in ornithology, historical texts, or linguistics. Otherwise avoided.
Everyday
High potential for misunderstanding. The verb uses (cock your head) are safe. The bird meaning is understood but often circumvented with 'rooster'.
Technical
Used in engineering/mechanics for a valve or tap (stopcock) and in aviation (cockpit).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He cocked his head, listening intently.
- The soldier cocked his rifle before entering the building.
American English
- She cocked an eyebrow in disbelief.
- He cocked the hammer of the revolver slowly.
adjective
British English
- He had a cock-eyed view of the situation.
- The plan went off at half-cock.
American English
- That's a cockamamie story if I ever heard one.
- The shelf was cockeyed and about to fall.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cock crows in the morning.
- He wore his hat cocked to the side.
- She cocked her head, trying to understand the strange noise.
- In the farmyard, the cock strutted proudly.
- The old tale he told was a complete cock and bull story.
- As cock of the walk, he dominated every discussion.
- The politician cocked a snook at convention with her unorthodox campaign.
- The mechanism was left at half-cock, rendering it useless in the emergency.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a WEATHERCOCK on a roof – it's a metal rooster that shows the wind direction. This connects the neutral 'bird' meaning to a common compound word.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGGRESSION/READINESS IS A COCKED GUN (The hammer is cocked); DEFIANCE IS COCKING A SNOOK; MALE PRIDE/DOMINANCE IS BEING THE COCK OF THE WALK.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do NOT use 'cock' as a direct translation for 'петух' in most casual situations, as the primary association for English speakers will be vulgar. Use 'rooster'.
- The Russian idiom 'пустить петуха' (to sing off-key) has no direct equivalent with 'cock'.
- The word 'кок' (chef) is a false friend; it derives from French 'chef'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'cock' informally to mean 'man' or 'friend' (as in some UK dialects) can sound very strange or offensive to an international audience.
- Attempting to use the avian meaning in a casual sentence (e.g., 'I saw a cock in the yard') will almost certainly cause embarrassment or laughter.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'cock' LEAST likely to cause offence or misunderstanding?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but context is everything. It is safe in fixed compounds (cockpit, stopcock, peacock), in the verb sense (cock a gun, cock your head), and in well-known idioms (cock and bull story). Using it to mean 'rooster' requires very clear, unambiguous context, such as in a farm setting or an ornithology text.
They refer to the same animal, but 'rooster' is the standard, neutral term in American English and is widely preferred in all varieties of English to avoid the vulgar connotations of 'cock'. 'Cock' as 'male bird' is more common in UK English but is still declining due to the slang meaning.
It's a chiefly British idiom meaning to show disrespect or defiance, often in a cheeky or mocking way. It originates from a rude gesture (putting the thumb to the nose).
Because it is a stark example of a lexical 'false friend' within English itself. A learner might learn the neutral, dictionary definition first, but then discover that the word's dominant social meaning is vulgar and taboo. This can lead to severe communicative failure if used innocently.