peacock

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   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.

2. 2
   verb

   To strut about proudly or haughtily.

   A routine border-check in upstate New York had turned into a back-room interrogation, and I was worried, because the three friends I was traveling with didn’t respond to authority well. I could almost hear the wry grins cracking their faces as the officers peacocked. “Is U.S. Customs a joke to you?” one officer asked. My friend Alex said, “No law against smiling, sir.”

3. 3
   noun

   male peafowl

4. 4
   noun

   European butterfly having reddish-brown wings each marked with a purple eyespot

5. 5
   noun

   A peafowl (of the genus Pavo or Afropavo), either male or female.

6. 6
   noun

   A pompous or vainglorious person [from the 14th c.].

7. 7
   noun

   Any of various Asian species of papilionid butterflies of the genus Papilio.

8. 8
   verb

   To engage in peacocking, ostentatious dress or behaviour to impress women.

Etymology

From Middle English pecok, pekok, pocok, pacok, equivalent to pea (“peafowl; peacock”) + cock. Compare Old Norse páfugl (“peacock”, literally “pea-fowl”), and English peahen, peachick, etc.