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

Two thrillers with literary antecedents — “Cross” on Prime Video and “The Day of the Jackal” on Peacock — premiere Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times

In Peacock’s thriller series, Eddie Redmayne is the titular assassin being chased by Bianca, a British intelligence officer played by Lashana Lynch.

From Los Angeles Times

The revelation arrives as part of a trove of never-before-released conversations unearthed in the three-part documentary series premiering on Peacock on Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times

“The Day of the Jackal,” a 10-episode limited series written by Ronan Bennett that premieres Thursday on Peacock, is a contemporary reimagining of Frederick Forsyth’s 1971 novel and the 1973 film, directed by Fred Zinnemann.

From Los Angeles Times

In recent years, Milioti has been “incredibly grateful” that she’s gotten to work on projects she believes in — even if they haven’t found their audiences, like the short-lived Peacock series “The Resort” or Max’s surrealist dark comedy “Made for Love,” which has since been removed from the streaming platform.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blue-green
• olive