cockatrice
[ kok-uh-tris ]
/ ˈkɒk ə trɪs /
noun
a legendary monster with a deadly glance, supposedly hatched by a serpent from the egg of a cock, and commonly represented with the head, legs, and wings of a cock and the body and tail of a serpent.Compare basilisk (def. 1).
a venomous serpent. Isaiah 11:8.
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Origin of cockatrice
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
Words nearby cockatrice
cock-and-bull story, cockapoo, cock a snook, cockatiel, cockatoo, cockatrice, Cockayne, Cockayne's syndrome, cockboat, cockchafer, Cockcroft
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for cockatrice
cockatrice
/ (ˈkɒkətrɪs, -ˌtraɪs) /
noun
a legendary monster, part snake and part cock, that could kill with a glance
another name for basilisk (def. 1)
Word Origin for cockatrice
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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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