cock-throwingn.
/ˈkɒkˌθrəʊɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈkɑkˌθroʊɪŋ/ Now historical.
A custom or traditional game formerly associated with Shrovetide, in which sticks are thrown at a cockerel or rooster tied to a post, the winner being the person who knocks it down or kills it; = throwing at cocks at throwing n.2 Phrases.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting or baiting animals > cock-throwing > [noun]
cock-thrashing1409
throwing at cocks1612
cock-throwing1650
cockshy1815
cockshying1830
1650 J. Mennes Recreation for Ingenious Head-peeces sig. X3v Cock-throwing. Cock a-doodle doe, 'tis the bravest game.
1753 Scots Mag. Feb. 103/2 (title) Against cock-throwing.
1825 Beverley Lighting Act ii. 17 Or throw at any cock or fowl in the manner called cock-throwing.
1869 W. E. H. Lecky Hist. European Morals II. iv. 174 (note) Cock-throwing—the favourite English game of throwing a stick..at cocks.
2000 J. Burnett Riot, Revelry & Rout iv. 39 Cock throwing. Hugh Miller records that at Cromarty, after the Fastern's E'en cock-fighting, the defeated birds and those which would not fight were stoned to death. Each throw cost a halfpenny.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1650