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

The cockatrice lifted itself up on its tail and looked at him with red eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp; and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den.

From Project Gutenberg

The fabulous animal, the cockatrice, was believed to result from a "venomous egg" laid by an aged cock, and hatched by a toad.

From Project Gutenberg

Those hens pecked the catch loose, and that cockatrice fairly staggered them.

From Project Gutenberg

Probably from the same source came such mythical creatures as the dragon, the wyvern, and the cockatrice.

From Project Gutenberg