cockatrice

[ kok-uh-tris ]

noun

1. a legendary monster with a deadly glance, supposedly hatched by a serpent from the egg of a rooster, and commonly represented with the head, legs, and wings of a rooster and the body and tail of a serpent. Compare basilisk ( def 1 ).
2. (in the Bible) a venomous serpent.

cockatrice

/ -ˌtraɪs; ˈkɒkətrɪs /

noun

1. a legendary monster, part snake and part cock, that could kill with a glance
2. another name for basilisk

Word History and Origins

Origin of cockatrice¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English cocatrice, from Middle French cocatris, from Medieval Latin caucātrīces (plural), Latin calcātrīx (unattested), feminine of calcātor (unattested) ”tracker,” equivalent to calcā(re) “to tread,” verbal derivative of calx “heel” + -tor agent suffix; the Latin was a direct translation of Greek word ichneúmōn, having the same meaning. See -trix, -tor, ichneumon

Word History and Origins

Origin of cockatrice¹

C14: from Old French cocatris, from Medieval Latin cocatrix, from Late Latin calcātrix trampler, tracker (translating Greek ikhneumon ichneumon ), from Latin calcāre to tread, from calx heel

Example Sentences

But you really can’t treat a chick or even a baby cockatrice like a weapon, just pulling it out when you want to.

From Literature

From the chalice a winged cockatrice is rising.

From Project Gutenberg

Here three demi-lions are conjoined with three sterns of antient ships—a composition compared with which the griffin, cockatrice, and every other hybrid of a herald’s imagination sinks into insignificance.

From Project Gutenberg

The young cockatrice, as he elected to call him, meant mischief--would certainly give trouble--and at an inconvenient moment.

From Project Gutenberg

We don't want you yet, my little cockatrice!

From Project Gutenberg