turkey cock
C2 (Very Low Frequency)Archaic, Literary, Humorous, Regional, Specialised (Ornithology, Agriculture)
Definition
Meaning
An adult male turkey (Meleagris gallopavo); a gobbler, a tom turkey.
A man who exhibits arrogant or pompous behavior, reminiscent of a turkey's strutting display.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term 'turkey cock' was standard for the male bird but has been largely superseded by 'tom' or 'tom turkey' in modern agricultural/ornithological use. The figurative use is dated and evocative of literary, particularly 19th-century, character descriptions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the historical term 'turkey-cock' (often hyphenated) is more recognisable from classic literature. In American English, where the bird is native, 'tom turkey' or simply 'tom' is overwhelmingly preferred in practical contexts, though 'turkey cock' might be understood as a deliberate archaism or in specific regional dialects.
Connotations
Both share the core ornithological and figurative meanings. The figurative use ('pompous man') is literary/archaic in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage in both dialects. Its occurrence is primarily in historical texts, deliberate stylised writing, or very specific rural/agricultural settings.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Adj] turkey cockturkey cock [prep phrase: of the flock]like a turkey cockVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “strut like a turkey cock”
- “proud/swollen as a turkey cock”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical literary analysis or specific zoological/agricultural history texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in modern conversation. A speaker might use it for deliberate humorous or rustic effect.
Technical
In modern ornithology and poultry science, 'tom' is standard. 'Turkey cock' is a dated technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The old colonel would turkey-cock about the club, issuing orders to no one in particular.
adjective
British English
- He had a rather turkey-cock demeanour, all puffed-up self-importance.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We saw a big turkey cock on the farm.
- The turkey cock has brighter feathers than the hen.
- In the classic novel, the landlord is described as strutting like a turkey cock through the inn.
- His turkey-cock arrogance at the meeting, puffing out his chest over minor achievements, was widely mocked afterwards.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a Thanksgiving turkey with a big, red 'cock's comb' (the fleshy growth on its head), strutting proudly.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARROGANCE IS THE DISPLAY OF A MALE BIRD (cf. peacock). A POMPOUS PERSON IS A TURKEY COCK.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'индюк' (indjuk) which is the standard, neutral term for a male turkey. 'Turkey cock' is not a standard modern equivalent. Avoid direct translation for the figurative sense; use 'фат' (fop, dandy) or 'чванливый человек' (arrogant person) instead.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as the default term for a male turkey (use 'tom').
- Confusing it with 'peacock' in figurative use (a peacock is vain; a turkey cock is pompous/arrogant).
- Using it in a modern technical or business context.
Practice
Quiz
In modern poultry farming, what is the most common term for a 'turkey cock'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. They are different bird species. Figuratively, both can describe a vain or showy person, but 'turkey cock' often implies blustering arrogance, while 'peacock' emphasizes visual vanity and display.
Only if you are deliberately invoking an archaic, literary, or humorous tone. For modern technical or neutral writing, 'tom turkey' or 'male turkey' is appropriate.
Language evolves for efficiency. 'Tom' (from 'Tom turkey') is shorter and became the standard in the poultry industry. The word 'cock' for a male bird has also become less common in some contexts, often replaced by 'rooster' for chickens.
It is mildly derogatory and dated, but not a severe insult. It paints a vivid, slightly comic picture of pomposity.