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.

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.

Read more on Literature

From the chalice a winged cockatrice is rising.

Read more on 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.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

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

Read more on Project Gutenberg

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

Read more on Project Gutenberg