'Cock of the woods' definitions:

Definition of 'Cock of the woods'

From: GCIDE
  • 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 (Zool.) See Sage cock.
  • Cock of the rock (Zool.), 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]

Definition of 'cock of the woods'

From: GCIDE
  • Capercailzie \Ca"per*cail`zie\, or Capercally \Ca"per*cal`ly\, n. [Gael, capulcoile.] (Zool.) A species of black Old World grouse (Tetrao uragallus) of large size and fine flavor, found in northern Europe and formerly in Scotland; -- called also cock of the woods and horse of the wood. [Written also capercaillie, capercaili.] [1913 Webster]