weathercock

American  

[weth-er-kok] / ˈwɛð ərˌkɒk /

noun

1. a weather vane with the figure of a rooster on it.

2. (loosely) any weather vane.

3. a person who readily adopts the latest fads, opinions, etc..

   The count is the weathercock of the jet set.

---

weathercock British  

/ ˈwɛðəˌkɒk /

noun

1. a weather vane in the form of a cock

2. a person who is fickle or changeable

---

verb

1. (intr) (of an aircraft) to turn or tend to turn into the wind

Etymology

Origin of weathercock

First recorded in 1250–1300, weathercock is from the Middle English word wedercoc. See weather, cock ¹

Example Sentences

No matter where we find ourselves in these stories, the author’s mind, and thus the reader’s, seems turned like a weathercock toward Homewood.

From New York Times • Mar. 26, 2021

Finally the winds of evidence blow up from a totally different quarter and point the weathercock of circumstance toward the least expected actor.

From Time Magazine Archive

Harriman reacted to the New Deal like a weathercock in a gale.

From Time Magazine Archive

Or else he is like a steeplejack, undizzied by his altitude in public affairs and intent on mending the weathervane, or crowing as a weathercock.

From Time Magazine Archive

There was a flagstaff in the garden, and on the roof was a gilt weathercock shaped like a telescope.

From "Mary Poppins" by P. L. Travers