peacock

¹

[ pee-kok ]

noun

, plural pea·cocks, (especially collectively) pea·cock.

1. 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.
2. any peafowl.
3. a vain, self-conscious person.
4. Peacock, Astronomy. the constellation Pavo.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a vainglorious display; strut like a peacock.

Peacock

²

[ pee-kok ]

noun

1. Thomas Love, 1785–1866, English poet and novelist.

peacock

¹

/ ˈpiːˌkɒk /

noun

1. a male peafowl, having a crested head and a very large fanlike tail marked with blue and green eyelike spots pavonine
2. another name for peafowl
3. a vain strutting person

verb

1. to display (oneself) proudly
2. obsolete.
   to acquire (the best pieces of land) in such a way that the surrounding land is useless to others

Peacock

²

/ ˈpiːˌkɒk /

noun

1. PeacockThomas Love17851866MEnglishWRITING: novelistWRITING: poet Thomas Love. 1785–1866, English novelist and poet, noted for his satirical romances, including Headlong Hall (1816) and Nightmare Abbey (1818)

Derived Forms

• ˈpeaˌhen, noun:feminine
• ˈpeaˌcockish, adjective

Other Words From

• peacocker·y peacockism noun
• peacockish peacocky adjective
• peacockish·ly adverb
• peacockish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of peacock¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English pecok, pocok equivalent to pe- ( Old English pēa “peafowl,” from Latin pāvōn-, stem of pavō peacock ( def ) ) + cok ( Old English coc cock ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of peacock¹

C14 pecok, pe- from Old English pāwa (from Latin pāvō peacock) + cock ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see proud as a peacock .

Example Sentences

The cast is uniformly excellent, including the peacocking Washington, chewing the scenery, and the soulful Mescal, looking like the statue of David come to life in fierce, brutal form.

From Los Angeles Times

That part of the leg, they say, is where fibular reduction among some dinosaurs tens of millions of years ago helped make it possible for peacocks to strut, penguins to waddle, and turkeys to trot.

From Science Daily

I don't want to sound like I'm prejudging these birds, but they're not like peacocks where it is easy to tell them apart on sight.

From Salon

Best known for his use of lotus and peacock motifs, Bal used rich fabrics like velvet and brocade - his designs were elaborate, inspired by Indian grandeur and royalty.

From BBC

He claimed avoidable deaths occurred, adding: "A peacock flew into the giant otter enclosure and the two giant otters ripped its head off in front of a school group."

From BBC

Related Words

• blue-green
• olive