peacock en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈpikɑk/ (General-American)
- (US) audio
- /ˈpiːkɒk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Etymology tree Pre-Greekbor. Ancient Greek ταώς (taṓs)bor.? Latin pāvōbor. Proto-Germanic *pāwô Proto-West Germanic *pāwō Old English pāwa Middle English pe Proto-Germanic *keukô Proto-Germanic *kukkaz Proto-West Germanic *kokk Old English cocc Middle English cok Middle English pecok English peacock From Middle English pecok, pekok, pocok, pacok, first component from Old English pēa, pāwa (“peacock, peafowl”), ultimately from Latin pāvō; equivalent to pea + cock. Compare Old Norse páfugl (“peacock”, literally “peafowl”), and English peahen, peachick, etc.
Meanings
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(countable, usually) 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.
1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page v:
- (countable, usually) A peafowl (of the genus Pavo or Afropavo), either male or female.
-
(uncountable, usually) The meat of this bird.
Nor do many people today long to eat peacock, which was both a privilege and an ordeal reserved for royalty.
1990 December 20, Charles Perry, “The Birds: Fowl Play…”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 05 Apr 2026:Nero, infamous emperor of Rome, built a rotating dining room in which guests could eat peacock while flower petals fluttered down from special panels in the ivory ceiling.
2017 September 27, Sam Anderson, “New Sentences: From ‘The New Rules of Coffee’”, in The New York Times Magazine, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Sep 2018:When a reader recently inquired if people really eat peacock, I stated that I’d never tasted the bird, roasted or otherwise, and as far as I knew, it is rarely cooked anywhere in the world.
1979 April 23, Craig Claiborne, “De Gustibus”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
- (countable, usually) A pompous or vainglorious person [from the 14th c.].
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(countable, usually) Any of various Asian species of papilionid butterflies of the genus Papilio.
The large and handsome spectre-butterfly, Hestia durvillei; the pale-winged peacock butterfly, Drusilla catops; and the most brilliant and wonderful of the clear-winged moths, Cocytia durvillei, were especially interesting, as well, as several little "blues," equalling in brilliancy and beauty anything the butterfly world can produce.
1869, Alfred Russel Wallace, The Malay Archipelago, volume II, London: Macmillan and Co., page 199:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| peacocks | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
peacockery · peacock fish · peacockism · peacocklike · peacock spider · peacockwise · peacock flower · peacock moth · Indian peacock · peacock parachute spider · peacocking · Rothschild's peacock-pheasant · peacock fly · Peacock Creek · peacock butterfly · peacock worm · proud as a peacock · peacock copper · peacock pheasant · peacock blue · sea peacock · peacock mite · peacock mantis shrimp · Lower Peacock · peacocky · giant peacock moth · European peacock · East Atlantic peacock wrasse · peacock jumping spider · Peacock Alley · mountain peacock-pheasant · peacock flounder · peacockish · peacock-pheasant · peacock chair · peacock ore · meacock · peacock bass · peacock pansy · Java peacock
Descendants
ፒኮክ · pīkake · pikàkës · pīkake
Hyponyms
Synonyms
Translations (210)
rup pionel (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · yi פּאַווע (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · my ဒေါင်း (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · es pavo ruan (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · za roeggungjcoz (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · hi मोर (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · de Pfauhahn (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · as মৈৰা (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · io pavono (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · hu páva (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ps کښېدی (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · pl paw (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ja 孔雀 (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · om burgutii (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ml മയിൽ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · za gungjcoz (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · as ম’ৰা (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · cs páv (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · or ମୟୂର (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · mt tawes (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · oge ფარშამანგი (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · fy pau (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sc paoni (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · jv merak (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · fr paon (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · kum тотуркъуш (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · rm pavun (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ary طاووس (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · et paabulind (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · mk паун (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · mt pagun (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · is páfugl (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · haw pīkake (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · tab тӏавус (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · alt алтын-тогус (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · kaw mrak (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ab аԥса́ркәты (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · tg товус (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sc baboni (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · gv peacock (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · kum тавус (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sc pavoni (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · lo ມະຍູລະ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · vo paf (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · az tovuz (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ta தோகை (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ka ფარშევანგი (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ga péacóg (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · eu pauma (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ps تاووس (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · pi mayūra (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · bn ময়ূর (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · vi công (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · oc pavon (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · tt тавис (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · hy սիրամարգ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · nl pauw (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ba тауис (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ary طاوس (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · eo pavo (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · km មយូរី (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · non pái (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · tr tavus (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ne मुजुर (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · dsb pawa (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · cy paun (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · kum тотукъуш (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · pap pòwis (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · mi pīkake (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ms merak (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · pt pavão (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · km មោរៈ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · es pavón (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · grc ταών (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sa मयूरी (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · bho मोर (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · as ময়ূৰ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sc poni (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · uz tovus (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · kk тауыс (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · gu મોર (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sq pallua (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ps ميور (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · af pou (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · mn ᠲᠣᠭ᠋ᠤᠰ᠋ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · syc ܛܘܣܐ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · orv павъ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · it pavone (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · lo ກຸໂງກ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sl pav (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · tr tavus kuşu (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · hsb paw (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · yue 孔雀 (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · th มยูร (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ab аҳ икәты́ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · kn ಮಯೂರ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sc paone (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ab атата́шь (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · tl paboreal (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · lo ຍູງ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · kmr tawis (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · mr मोर (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · el παγώνι (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ta மயில் (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · lo ສິຂິ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ka ფარშავანგი (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · tk tawus (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · vec paón (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ug توز (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · fo páfuglur (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · cs pávice (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ky тоос (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · bo རྨ་བྱ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · de Pfau (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · mnc ᡨᠣᠵᡳᠨ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · te నెమలి (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ko 공작 (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · xct རྨ་བྱ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · th ยูง (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · hi मयूर (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · shn ၼူၵ်ႉယုင်း (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · nb påfugl (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · gv kellagh aalin (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · uk пави́чка (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · fur pavon (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · fi riikinkukko (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · alt тооды куш (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · br paun (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · lmo pavon (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · rup piunar (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · uz tovuq (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · th นกยูง (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · cmn 孔雀 (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sh па̏ӯн (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sc pavone (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · he טווס (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · la pāvō (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ast pavu (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ru па́ва (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · be па́ва (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · id merak (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · lv pāvs (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · new म्ह्य्खा (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · fa طاووس (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · gv kellagh eairkagh (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · uk пави́ч (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · pms pavon (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · th มยุรี (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · rom pavuno (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · rup pãun (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · khb ᦷᦓᧅᦍᦳᧂ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · es pavo real (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · gd feucag (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · nn påfugl (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · es pavorreal (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · id merak jantan (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ca paó (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · unm pikàkës (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sk pávica (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · am ፒኮክ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ne मयूर (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · uk па́ва (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · he טַוָּס (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · fr paonne (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sw tausi (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ro păun (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ky павлин (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · grc ταώς (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · be паўлі́н (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · dsb paw (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · bg пау́н (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sh pȁūn (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ckb تاوس (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · lo ມະຍູຣະ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · pa ਮੋਰ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ti ጣውስ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sd मोर (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · gd peucag (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · kn ನವಿಲು (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · arc טַוסָא (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · km ក្ងោក (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ang pāwa (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · nan-hbl 孔雀 (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · km មយូរ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sk páv (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · pt pavão real (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · gl pavón (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · arz طاووس (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · pi mora (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · nrf paon (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · da påfugl (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · am ጣዎስ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ja ピーコック (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · kn ಕೇಕಿ (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · alt тогус (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · lt povas (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ta ஞமலி (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ar طَاوُوس (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · mn тогос (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sc paboni (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · th มยุรา (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · lld pavon (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sv påfågel (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ur مور (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · kmr tawûs (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ps طاووس (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · lb Pohunn (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · cv турткӑш (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · sa मयूर (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo) · ru павли́н (pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo)