Chaparral cock

chaparral cock
    n 1: speedy largely terrestrial bird found from California and
         Mexico to Texas [syn: {roadrunner}, {chaparral cock},
         {Geococcyx californianus}]
    

Chaparral \Cha`par*ral"\, n. [Sp., fr. chaparro an evergeen
   oak.]
   1. A thicket of low evergreen oaks.
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   2. An almost impenetrable thicket or succession of thickets
      of thorny shrubs and brambles.
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   {Chaparral cock}; fem. {Chaparral hen} (Zool.), a bird of the
      cuckoo family ({Geococcyx Californianus}), noted for
      running with great speed. It ranges from California to
      Mexico and eastward to Texas; -- called also {road
      runner}, {ground cuckoo}, {churea}, and {snake killer}. It
      is the state bird of New Mexico.
      [1913 Webster +PJC] chapati
    

Cock \Cock\ (k[o^]k), n. [AS. coc; of unknown origin, perh. in
   imitation of the cry of the cock. Cf. {Chicken}.]
   1. The male of birds, particularly of gallinaceous or
      domestic fowls.
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   2. A vane in the shape of a cock; a weathercock.
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            Drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks! --Shak.
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   3. A chief man; a leader or master. [Humorous]
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            Sir Andrew is the cock of the club, since he left
            us.                                   --Addison.
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   4. The crow of a cock, esp. the first crow in the morning;
      cockcrow. [Obs.]
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            He begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock.
                                                  --Shak.
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   5. A faucet or valve.
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   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 crit[ae] galli, i.e., in the form of a cock's
         comb.
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   6. The style of gnomon of a dial. --Chambers.
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   7. The indicator of a balance. --Johnson.
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   8. The bridge piece which affords a bearing for the pivot of
      a balance in a clock or watch. --Knight.
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   9. a penis. [vulgar]
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   {Ball cock}. See under {Ball}.

   {Chaparral cock}. See under {Chaparral}.

   {Cock and bull story}, {an extravagant}, boastful story; a
      canard.

   {Cock of the plains} (Zool.) See {Sage cock}.

   {Cock of the rock} (Zool.), a South American bird ({Rupicola
      aurantia}) having a beautiful crest.

   {Cock of the walk}, a chief or master; the hero of the hour;
      one who has overcrowed, or got the better of, rivals or
      competitors.

   {Cock of the woods}. See {Capercailzie}.
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