† roost-cockn.
Obsolete.
A domestic cock.
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the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > hen or cock > [noun] > cock
cockeOE
chanticleer?a1300
common astrologera1413
dunghill cock1561
red cock1591
cock-a-doodle-doo1604
roost-cock1606
alectryon1664
stag1730
rooster1772
doodle-doo1785
cock bird1788
1606 H. Parrot Mous-trap xxv. sig. C Gallus that greatest Roost-cock in the rout.
1610 J. Guillim Display of Heraldrie vi. v. 268 The Carians had Rust-cocks for their crests.
a1633 Visct. Falkland Hist. Edward II (1680) 88 The old Roost-cock in his Country-language.
1668 W. Charleton Onomasticon Zoicon 75 Gallus Gallinaceus,..the House, or Roost-Cock.
1714 D. Turner De Morbis Cutaneis ii. xi. 289 A Gardener being unexpectedly set upon by an old Roost Cock with a sharp Bill and red Feathers, receiv'd in the Encounter a Wound or Puncture on his left Hand.
1789 G. White Let. in Nat. Hist. Selborne 289 Roost-cocks, which had been silent, began to sound their clarions.
a1794 M. Palmer Dialogue Devonshire Dial. (1837) 8 Their blowzy faces as rid as roost-cocks.
1843 Illuminated Mag. 1 260/1 No matter whether his nag have the stringhalt, and steps like a roost-cock,..the Butcher's Boy braves every competitor in the race.
1858 A. Polson Law & Lawyers 116 A beautiful roost-cock flew upon his head and crowed three times.
1871 H. Holl Golden Bait I. xi. 174 My eyes are bad; I can't tell a roost cock from a hen.
1885 H. Hailstone Novæ Arundines 46 Roost-cocks soon will trumpets sound; Clamours now the raven band!
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
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