Cock and bull story

Cock and bull story
Cock Cock (k[o^]k), n. [AS. coc; of unknown origin, perh. in imitation of the cry of the cock. Cf. {Chicken}.] 1. The male of birds, particularly of gallinaceous or domestic fowls. [1913 Webster]

2. A vane in the shape of a cock; a weathercock. [1913 Webster]

Drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks! --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. A chief man; a leader or master. [Humorous] [1913 Webster]

Sir Andrew is the cock of the club, since he left us. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

4. The crow of a cock, esp. the first crow in the morning; cockcrow. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

He begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. A faucet or valve. [1913 Webster]

Note: Jonsons says, ``The handle probably had a cock on the top; things that were contrived to turn seem anciently to have had that form, whatever was the reason.'' Skinner says, because it used to be constructed in forma crit[ae] galli, i.e., in the form of a cock's comb. [1913 Webster]

6. The style of gnomon of a dial. --Chambers. [1913 Webster]

7. The indicator of a balance. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]

8. The bridge piece which affords a bearing for the pivot of a balance in a clock or watch. --Knight. [1913 Webster]

9. a penis. [vulgar] [PJC]

{Ball cock}. See under {Ball}.

{Chaparral cock}. See under {Chaparral}.

{Cock and bull story}, {an extravagant}, boastful story; a canard.

{Cock of the plains} (Zo["o]l.) See {Sage cock}.

{Cock of the rock} (Zo["o]l.), a South American bird ({Rupicola aurantia}) having a beautiful crest.

{Cock of the walk}, a chief or master; the hero of the hour; one who has overcrowed, or got the better of, rivals or competitors.

{Cock of the woods}. See {Capercailzie}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cock and bull story — UK US noun [countable] [singular cock and bull story plural cock and bull stories] informal a story that is silly and difficult to believe Thesaurus: types of story or play …   Useful english dictionary

  • cock-and-bull story — {n. phr.} An exaggerated or unbelievable story. * / Stop feeding me such cock and bull stories, the detective said to the suspect./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • cock-and-bull story — {n. phr.} An exaggerated or unbelievable story. * / Stop feeding me such cock and bull stories, the detective said to the suspect./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • cock-and-bull story — cock and bull stories N COUNT If you describe something that someone tells you as a cock and bull story, you mean that you do not believe it is true. [INFORMAL] Was it him who made you come to us with this cock and bull story? …   English dictionary

  • cock and bull story — A cock and bull story is a lie someone tells that is completely unbelievable …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • cock-and-bull story — [käk′ən bool′] n. [for earlier cockalane < Fr ( saillir du) coq en l âne, lit., (to jump from) the cock to the donkey] an absurd, improbable story …   English World dictionary

  • cock-and-bull story — cock and bull ,story noun count a story that is very silly and difficult to believe …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • cock and bull story — ► NOUN informal ▪ a ridiculous and implausible story …   English terms dictionary

  • cock-and-bull story — noun an interesting but highly implausible story; often told as an excuse • Syn: ↑fairytale, ↑fairy tale, ↑fairy story, ↑song and dance • Hypernyms: ↑fib, ↑story, ↑tale, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • cock and bull story — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms cock and bull story : singular cock and bull story plural cock and bull stories informal a story that is silly and difficult to believe …   English dictionary

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