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Peacock

//ˈpikɑk// name, noun, verb

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname transferred from the nickname. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    A township in Lake County, Michigan, United States. countable, uncountable
  3. 3
    An unincorporated community in Stonewall County, Texas, United States. countable, uncountable
Noun
  1. 1
    A male peafowl, especially Pavo cristatus, notable for its brilliant iridescently ocellated tail.

    "The ſpring diſplaying her elegant taſte, the proud walk of the gold-feathered pheaſant, the light tread of the ſmall-hoofed hind, and the dancing of the ſtar-trained peacock, infuſed joy into the ſoul of the ſpectator of the aſtoniſhing works of the Creator."

  2. 2
    male peafowl; having a crested head and very large fanlike tail marked with iridescent eyes or spots wordnet
  3. 3
    A peafowl (of the genus Pavo or Afropavo), either male or female.
  4. 4
    European butterfly having reddish-brown wings each marked with a purple eyespot wordnet
  5. 5
    A pompous or vainglorious person [from the 14th c.].
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  1. 6
    Any of various Asian species of papilionid butterflies of the genus Papilio.
Verb
  1. 1
    To strut about proudly or haughtily. intransitive

    "A routine border-check in upstate New York had turned into a back-room interrogation, and I was worried, because the three friends I was traveling with didn’t respond to authority well. I could almost hear the wry grins cracking their faces as the officers peacocked. “Is U.S. Customs a joke to you?” one officer asked. My friend Alex said, “No law against smiling, sir.”"

  2. 2
    To engage in peacocking, ostentatious dress or behaviour to impress women. intransitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English pecok, pekok, pocok, pacok, equivalent to pea (“peafowl; peacock”) + cock. Compare Old Norse páfugl (“peacock”, literally “pea-fowl”), and English peahen, peachick, etc.

Etymology 2

From Middle English pecok, pekok, pocok, pacok, equivalent to pea (“peafowl; peacock”) + cock. Compare Old Norse páfugl (“peacock”, literally “pea-fowl”), and English peahen, peachick, etc.

Etymology 3

From peacock, a nickname for a vain and conceited person.

See also for "peacock"

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