Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Peacock?

\Pea"cock`\, n. [OE. pecok. Pea- in this word is from AS. pe['a], p[=a]wa, peacock, fr. L. pavo, prob. of Oriental origin; cf. Gr. ?, ?, Per. t[=a]us, t[=a]wus, Ar. t[=a]wu?s. See {Cock} the bird.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) The male of any pheasant of the genus {Pavo}, of which at least two species are known, native of Southern Asia and the East Indies. Note: The upper tail coverts, which are long and capable of erection, are each marked with a black spot bordered by concentric bands of brilliant blue, green, and golden colors. The common domesticated species is {Pavo cristatus}. The Javan peacock ({P. muticus}) is more brilliantly colored than the common species. 2. In common usage, the species in general or collectively; a peafowl. {Peacock butterfly} (Zo["o]l.), a handsome European butterfly ({Hamadryas Io}) having ocelli like those of peacock. {Peacock fish} (Zo["o]l.), the European blue-striped wrasse ({Labrus variegatus}); -- so called on account of its brilliant colors. Called also {cook wrasse} and {cook}. {Peacock pheasant} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of handsome Asiatic pheasants of the genus {Polyplectron}. They resemble the peacock in color.