Cock
noun /kɒk/ — A male chicken; the penis; a mild British expletive
Definition
Literally: a male chicken (rooster). The sexual meaning (penis) developed in the 17th century. Also used in British English as a mild term of address ('alright, cock?'). The semantic shift from barnyard to body is one of language's more amusing journeys.
Beyond the definition
Cock's journey from the barnyard to the bedroom reveals how language repurposes existing words for new referents — and how meanings layer without eliminating what came before. The rooster definition survived intact; so did the rest.
Origin & history
Old English: cocc (male bird). The sexual meaning developed in the 17th century. The word's original meaning is so established that it coexists with its sexual meaning without usually causing confusion — context manages the ambiguity.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The word 'cock' has meant 'male bird' for over a thousand years. The sexual meaning arrived later and settled in comfortably.
Weather vanes traditionally bore the image of a cock — symbolising watchfulness. The word outlasted its original context.
British terms of address: 'mate', 'love', 'duck', 'cock' — the regional warmth of English familiarity.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Cock” when the meaning fits your context: Literally: a male chicken (rooster). The sexual meaning (penis) developed in the 17th century. Also used in British English as a mild term of address ('alright, cock?'). The semantic shift from barnyard to body is one of language's more amusing journeys.
Synonyms
rooster, penis (informal)
Related words
Cock vs dick
Cock is often used in milder, informal contexts and has biological roots. Dick is frequently used as a direct, aggressive insult toward someone's character.
Compare this word
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Seasonal Change and Growth
A tree shows bare twigs on one side and budding green leaves on another.
The semantic journey of 'cock'—from a rooster to a body part—reflects the evolution of a natural thing into a symbolic one. The tree's seasonal shift mirrors this transformation, as it changes meaning and form according to its environment.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Cock" mean?
Cock is noun meaning: A male chicken; the penis; a mild British expletive. Literally: a male chicken (rooster). The sexual meaning (penis) developed in the 17th century. Also used in British English as a mild term of address ('alright, cock?'). The semantic shift from barnyard to body is one of language's more amusing journeys.
Where does the word "Cock" come from?
Old English: cocc (male bird). The sexual meaning developed in the 17th century. The word's original meaning is so established that it coexists with its sexual meaning without usually causing confusion — context manages the ambiguity.