peacock

¹ American  

[pee-kok] / ˈpiˌkɒk /

noun

plural

peacocks,

plural

peacock

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. Astronomy. Peacock, the constellation Pavo.

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verb (used without object)

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

Peacock ² American  

[pee-kok] / ˈpiˌkɒk /

noun

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

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peacock ¹ British  

/ ˈpiːˌkɒk /

noun

1. a male peafowl, having a crested head and a very large fanlike tail marked with blue and green eyelike spots

2. another name for peafowl

3. a vain strutting person

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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 British  

/ ˈpiːˌkɒk /

noun

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

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peacock Idioms  

1. see proud as a peacock.

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Other Word Forms

• peacockery noun
• peacockish adjective
• peacockishly adverb
• peacockishness noun
• peacockism noun
• peacocky adjective
• peahen noun

Etymology

Origin of peacock

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 )

Example Sentences

From her perch in New Orleans, she has also reported on natural disasters, the big business of Mardi Gras and her neighborhood peacock, Mr. P.

From The Wall Street Journal

As if to underline the point, he wore a medallion around his neck featuring NBC’s peacock logo.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a choreographic sequence during the final seconds of his program, Malinin peacocked to the fans—and judges—with the kind of daring maneuver that’s more common on snow than ice.

From The Wall Street Journal

I land, rump first, on what appears to be a gilded box owned by a pinch-faced peacock of a woman.

From Literature

Like now, the way she was marching ahead as if she were going into battle, one long peacock feather flying proudly from her prim dark bonnet like a flag.

From Literature

Related Words

• bluster
• gloat
• prance
• sashay
• saunter
• strut