'Peacock pheasant' definitions:

Definition of 'Peacock pheasant'

From: GCIDE
  • Peacock \Pea"cock`\ (p[=e]"k[o^]k`), 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. taw`s, taw^s, Per. t[=a]us, t[=a]wus, Ar. t[=a]w[=u]s. See Cock the bird.]
  • 1. (Zool.) 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 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 (Pavo muticus) is more brilliantly colored than the common species. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. In common usage, the species in general or collectively; a peafowl. [1913 Webster]
  • Peacock butterfly (Zool.), a handsome European butterfly (Hamadryas Io) having ocelli like those of peacock.
  • Peacock fish (Zool.), the European blue-striped wrasse (Labrus variegatus); -- so called on account of its brilliant colors. Called also cook wrasse and cook.
  • Peacock pheasant (Zool.), any one of several species of handsome Asiatic pheasants of the genus Polyplectron. They resemble the peacock in color. [1913 Webster]