1.The male of birds, particularly of gallinaceous or domestic fowls.
2.A vane in the shape of a cock; a weathercock. "Drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks!"
3.A chief man; a leader or master. (Humorous) "Sir Andrew is the cock of the club, since he left us."
4.The crow of a cock, esp. the first crow in the morning; cockcrow. (Obs.) "He begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock."
5.A faucet or valve. Note: Jonsons says, "The handle probably had a cock on the top; things that were contrived to turn seem anciently to have had that form, whatever was the reason." Skinner says, because it used to be constructed in forma critae galli, i.e., in the form of a cock's comb.
6.The style of gnomon of a dial.
7.The indicator of a balance.
8.The bridge piece which affords a bearing for the pivot of a balance in a clock or watch.