Where does “peacock” come from?
Peacock comes from Middle English pecok, from Middle English cok, from Old English cōc, from Latin coccum, ultimately from Latin coquo meaning to cook.
peacock (English): A male peafowl, especially "Pavo cristatus",...
Definitions
- A male peafowl, especially "Pavo cristatus",...
Ancestry of “peacock”, step by step
peacock traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English pecok
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | pecok | The peacock or its meat |
| 2 | Old English | pāwa | peacock |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | pāwô | peacock, peafowl |
| 4 | Latin | pāvō | peacock, peafowl; a bird associated with Argus and sacred to Hera or Juno; eaten as a delicacy |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ταώς | peacock; type of fish |
via Middle English pocok
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | pocok | Alternative form of pecok |
via Middle English pacok
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | pacok | Alternative form of pecok |