peacock

¹

[pee-kok]

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.

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

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

Other Word Forms

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

The famous NBC peacock will no longer be part of the channel’s logo.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

On the course, elaborate tombs of the city's past rulers poke through tangled trees that are home to peacocks, troops of monkeys and mongooses.

Read more on Barron's

This peacock stands out even in Macau, a city that embraces garishness almost as much as it does light pollution.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"It may have been used for display, much like a peacock's feathers, possibly to attract mates or intimidate rivals."

Read more on BBC

She is worried the peacock "won't survive in the winter as it is too open and we have foxes and it will be horrific".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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