peacock
[ pee-kok ]
/ ˈpiˌkɒk /
noun, plural pea·cocks, (especially collectively) pea·cock.
the male of the peafowl distinguished by its long, erectile, greenish, iridescent tail coverts that are brilliantly marked with ocellated spots and that can be spread in a fan.
any peafowl.
a vain, self-conscious person.
(initial capital letter) Astronomy.
the constellation Pavo.
verb (used without object)
to make a vainglorious display; strut like a peacock.
Origin of peacock
1250–1300; Middle English
pecok, equivalent to
pe- (Old English
pēa peafowl < Latin
pāvōn-
pavo) +
cok (Old English
coc
cock1)
OTHER WORDS FROM peacock
pea·cock·er·y, pea·cock·ism, noun pea·cock·ish, pea·cock·y, adjective pea·cock·ish·ly, adverb pea·cock·ish·ness, nounWords nearby peacock
Definition for peacock (2 of 2)
Peacock
[ pee-kok ]
/ ˈpiˌkɒk /
noun
Thomas Love,1785–1866,
English poet and novelist.
Example sentences from the Web for peacock
British Dictionary definitions for peacock (1 of 2)
peacock
/ (ˈpiːˌkɒk) /
noun plural -cocks or -cock
a male peafowl, having a crested head and a very large fanlike tail marked with blue and green eyelike spots
Related adjective: pavonine
another name for peafowl
a vain strutting person
verb
to display (oneself) proudly
obsolete, slang, Australian
to acquire (the best pieces of land) in such a way that the surrounding land is useless to others
Derived forms of peacock
peacockish, adjective peahen, fem nWord Origin for peacock
C14
pecok, pe- from Old English
pāwa (from Latin
pāvō peacock) +
cock
1
British Dictionary definitions for peacock (2 of 2)
Peacock
/ (ˈpiːˌkɒk) /
noun
Thomas Love. 1785–1866, English novelist and poet, noted for his satirical romances, including Headlong Hall (1816) and Nightmare Abbey (1818)
Idioms and Phrases with peacock
peacock
see proud as a peacock.