Definition of PEACOCK

peacock

Meanings

Plural: peacocks

Noun

  • European butterfly having reddish-brown wings each marked with a purple eyespot
  • male peafowl; having a crested head and very large fanlike tail marked with iridescent eyes or spots
  • A male peafowl, especially Pavo cristatus, notable for its brilliant iridescently ocellated tail.
  • A peafowl (of the genus Pavo or Afropavo), either male or female.
  • A pompous or vainglorious person [from the 14th c.].
  • Any of various Asian species of papilionid butterflies of the genus Papilio.

Verb

  • To strut about proudly or haughtily.
  • To engage in peacocking, ostentatious dress or behaviour to impress women.

Origin / 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.

Synonyms

Inachis io, peacock butterfly, peafowl, turkeycock

Scrabble Score: 17

peacock is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
peacock is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
peacock is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 20

peacock is a valid Words With Friends word