Peacock

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈpiːkÉ”k/

Origin

From Middle English pea ("peacock") + coc (see cock (n.)). Pea, still used in older Modern English but eventually composed with cock to avoid confusion with the homonymous vegetable, is from Old English pēa ("peafowl"), a side-form of Old English pāwa ("peafowl") (whence Middle English po ("peacock")), from Latin pavo (gen. pavonis), which, with Ancient Greek ταώς, said to be ultimately from Tamil தோகை (but perhaps is imitative; Latin represented the peacock's sound as paupulo). Used as the type of a vainglorious person from late 14c. Its flesh superstitiously believed to be incorruptible (even St. Augustine credits this). "When he sees his feet, he screams wildly, thinking that they are not in keeping with the rest of his body."

Full definition of peacock

Noun

1. A male or female pheasant of the two genera: Pavo or Afropavo, whose males have extravagant tails.
2. A vainglorious person

Synonyms

• peafowl rare

Hyponyms

• peachick
• peahen

Derived terms

• peacock butterfly
• peacock fish
• peacocking
• peacock pheasant
• proud as a peacock