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Webster 1913 Edition

Peacock

Pea′cockˊ

(pē′kŏkˊ)
,
Noun.
[OE.
pecok
.
Pea-
in this word is from AS.
peá
,
pāwa
, peacock, fr. L.
pavo
, prob. of Oriental origin; cf. Gr.
ταώς
,
ταῶς
, Per.
tāus
,
tāwus
, Ar.
tāwūs
. See
Cock
the bird.]
1.
(Zool.)
The male of any
pheasant
of the genus
Pavo
, of which at least two species are known, native of Southern Asia and the East Indies.
☞ The upper tail coverts, which are long and capable of erection, are each marked with a black spot bordered by concentric bands of brilliant blue, green, and golden colors. The common domesticated species is
Pavo cristatus
. The Javan peacock (
Pavo muticus
) is more brilliantly colored than the common species.
2.
In common usage, the species in general or collectively; a peafowl.
Peacock butterfly
(Zool.)
,
a handsome European butterfly (
Hamadryas Io
) having ocelli like those of peacock.
–
Peacock fish
(Zool.)
,
the European blue-striped wrasse (
Labrus variegatus
); – so called on account of its brilliant colors. Called also
cook wrasse
and
cook
.
–
Peacock pheasant
(Zool.)
,
any one of several species of handsome Asiatic pheasants of the genus
Polyplectron
. They resemble the peacock in color.

Webster 1828 Edition

Peacock

PE'ACOCK

,
Noun.
[L. pavo.] A large and beautiful fowl of the genus Pavo, properly the male of the species, but in usage the name is applied to the species in general. The feathers of this fowl's tail are very long, and variegated with rich and elegant colors. The peacock is a native of India.

Definition 2024

Peacock

Peacock

See also: peacock

English

Proper noun

Peacock

  1. A surname​.

peacock

peacock

See also: Peacock

English

A peacock.
A peacock

Noun

peacock ‎(plural peacocks)

  1. A male peafowl with brilliant blue or green iridescent tails.
  2. A peafowl, either male or female.
  3. A vainglorious person
  4. A male or female pheasant of the two genera: Pavo or Afropavo, whose males have extravagant tails.

Synonyms

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Etymology

From Middle English pea ‎(“peacock”) + coc (see cock (n.)). Pea, still used in Early Modern English but later combined with cock to deter confusion with the homonymous vegetable, is from Old English pēa ‎(“peafowl”), a by-form of Old English pāwa ‎(“peafowl”) (whence Middle English po and pocock ‎(“peacock”)), from Latin pavo (gen. pavonis), which, with Ancient Greek ταώς ‎(taṓs), said to be ultimately from Tamil தோகை ‎(tōkai) (but perhaps is imitative; Latin represented the peacock's sound as paupulo). Used as the type of a vainglorious person from late 14c. Its flesh superstitiously believed to be incorruptible (even St. Augustine credits this). "When he sees his feet, he screams wildly, thinking that they are not in keeping with the rest of his body."

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