cock of the plains

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Sage \Sage\, n. [OE. sauge, F. sauge, L. salvia, from salvus
   saved, in allusion to its reputed healing virtues. See
   {Safe}.] (Bot.)
   (a) A suffruticose labiate plant ({Salvia officinalis}) with
       grayish green foliage, much used in flavoring meats, etc.
       The name is often extended to the whole genus, of which
       many species are cultivated for ornament, as the scarlet
       sage, and Mexican red and blue sage.
   (b) The sagebrush.
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   {Meadow sage} (Bot.), a blue-flowered species of {Salvia}
      ({Salvia pratensis}) growing in meadows in Europe.

   {Sage cheese}, cheese flavored with sage, and colored green
      by the juice of leaves of spinach and other plants which
      are added to the milk.

   {Sage cock} (Zool.), the male of the sage grouse; in a more
      general sense, the specific name of the sage grouse.

   {Sage green}, of a dull grayish green color, like the leaves
      of garden sage.

   {Sage grouse} (Zool.), a very large American grouse
      ({Centrocercus urophasianus}), native of the dry sagebrush
      plains of Western North America. Called also {cock of the
      plains}. The male is called {sage cock}, and the female
      {sage hen}.

   {Sage hare}, or {Sage rabbit} (Zool.), a species of hare
      ({Lepus Nuttalli} syn. {Lepus artemisia}) which inhabits
      the arid regions of Western North America and lives among
      sagebrush. By recent writers it is considered to be merely
      a variety of the common cottontail, or wood rabbit.

   {Sage hen} (Zool.), the female of the sage grouse.

   {Sage sparrow} (Zool.), a small sparrow ({Amphispiza Belli},
      var. Nevadensis) which inhabits the dry plains of the
      Rocky Mountain region, living among sagebrush.

   {Sage thrasher} (Zool.), a singing bird ({Oroscoptes
      montanus}) which inhabits the sagebrush plains of Western
      North America.

   {Sage willow} (Bot.), a species of willow ({Salix tristis})
      forming a low bush with nearly sessile grayish green
      leaves.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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]
      [PJC]

   {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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