Peacock

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpikɑk/

Definitions

1. A large colorful bird with elaborate tail feathers that can be fanned out for display, or a person who behaves ostentatiously to attract attention
2. A large iridescent male bird with an extendable fan-like tail used in courtship display, or someone who displays themselves boastfully to gain admiration
3. A vain bird species distinguished by brilliant plumage and an ornamental tail, or an arrogant individual who seeks attention through showy behavior

Etymology: The English name is a compound of two old words. "Pea" comes from Old English "pēa" or "pāwa," which meant peacock or peafowl itself, and that word traces back through Proto-Germanic to Latin "pāvō." "Cock" is the ordinary word for a male bird, so "peacock" literally means "male peafowl," with the male marked by an extra word, much as "peahen" marks the female. The Latin source is older still. Ancient Greek used "ταώς" (taōs) for the bird, and the Greek word itself is often treated as a borrowing from a non-Greek language, probably from the pre-Greek speakers of the Mediterranean region. The bird reached Europe as a prized import, which explains why its name travelled through so many languages before settling into English.

Synonyms: bird, fowl, animal