Jake Harper
The word cock has been used to refer to a male chicken in English since the late 9th century, borrowed from the French coc/coq, which imitates the sound a rooster makes. However, the word cock has also been used as a slang term for the penis, derived from the aggressive male nature of roosters and their role in procreation. This slang usage is not unique to English, as other languages such as Chinese and Portuguese also use avian terms as euphemisms for the penis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| English word for male chicken | Cock |
| Origin of the word cock | Old Norse kokkr, imitative of the sound the bird makes |
| Cock became slang for penis | Around the early 17th century |
| First recorded usage of cock referring to penis | In John Fletcher's play The Custom of the Country |
| Spanish word for female chicken | Polla |
| Spanish slang words for penis | La pinga, la vega, polla |
| Spanish slang words for vagina | El coño, el chocho |
| Chinese slang for penis | 屌 (diǎo) |
| Chinese slang words for genitalia | 雀 (“sparrow > penis"), 雞 (“chicken > penis") |
| Latin word for sparrow | Passer |
| Latin word passer meaning slang for penis | Ongoing debate |
| Historical and symbolic relationship | Penis, middle finger, and saying "fuck you" |
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What You'll Learn
- Roosters are cocky and colourful, exhibiting traits of masculinity and sexual prowess
- The Latin word for sparrow, 'passer', may be slang for penis
- In Japanese, 'chin chin' is an onomatopoeia for a bird's cry
- The word 'cock' is imitative of the sound a rooster makes
- Roosters are known for strutting around and pecking
Roosters are cocky and colourful, exhibiting traits of masculinity and sexual prowess
Roosters, or cocks, are male chickens that are over a year old. They are often depicted as fierce, boisterous, and proud animals, with high testosterone levels that make them aggressive and territorial. This has led to their association with masculinity and machoism. In popular culture, roosters are often portrayed as horny Casanovas who constantly flirt with or harass hens, or as bullies who pick on smaller fowl. Their flamboyant appearance and habit of perching high above the ground further reinforce their perceived pompousness and attention-seeking tendencies.
The word "cock" itself is one of the oldest in the English language, traced back to Old Norse "kokkr", imitating the sound the bird makes. The term has also come to be associated with the penis, derived from the aggressive male nature of roosters and their primary role in procreation on farms. Similarly, the slang term "pecker" refers to the action of pecking, which is what roosters do besides strutting around and making noise.
In Spanish, "pollo" means chicken, while "polla" has a double meaning: it can refer to a female chicken or be slang for penis. Other slang terms for penis in Spanish include "la pinga" and "la verga", which are feminine, and "el coño" and "el chocho", which are masculine. The grammatical gender of words referring to body parts can be challenging to understand and memorise, even for native speakers.
Roosters come in various breeds and colours, with some being more subtly stunning than others. For example, the Wheaten Ameraucana rooster has a rich golden brown to reddish-brown colour with deep black breast and body feathers. On the other hand, the White Orpington rooster is a large, calm, and friendly breed with abundant white feathers. Roosters are also known for their protective instincts, making them suitable guardians for backyard flocks.
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The Latin word for sparrow, 'passer', may be slang for penis
The English noun "cock" meaning a male chicken is one of the oldest words in the English language, traced as far back as Old Norse "kokkr", imitative of the sound the bird makes. The word pecker, which is slang for penis, shares the same origin, derived from the aggressive male nature of roosters and their role in procreation.
In many other languages, the penis is also referred to with words relating to birds. In Portuguese, pinto (chick) is slang for penis, and in Romanian, the diminutive form of the word "passer" ("sparrow" in Latin) is "păsărică", which means "bird". In Catalan, "pardal" (sparrow) is slang for penis, and in Chinese, 「雀」 ("sparrow") and 「雞」 ("chicken") are also slang terms for the penis.
The Latin word "passer" ("sparrow") may also be slang for the penis. This interpretation dates back to Classical antiquity, with scholars debating the meaning of the word in the context of the poems Catullus 2 and Catullus 3, written by Roman poet Gaius Valerius Catullus (c. 84–c. 54 BCE). In the poems, Catullus laments the death of a pet sparrow ("passer") belonging to an unnamed girl ("puella"), possibly his lover Lesbia. The debate centres around whether the sparrow in the poems is a double entendre, with some arguing that it is a euphemism for the penis, while others disagree.
Supporting the interpretation of "passer" as a euphemism for the penis, Pliny the Elder and Sextus Pompeius Festus associated sparrows with salaciousness, and in Egyptian hieroglyphics, the image of the bird denoted "little, evil". Additionally, in Greek, the word for sparrow ("strouthos") was also used to refer to the phallus. Furthermore, the winged phallus was a persistent motif in Greco-Roman art, making it likely that Catullus was aware of the metaphorical meaning of the sparrow.
However, others argue that the sexual interpretation of "passer" is not definitive. The dispute over the meaning of the word has endured for hundreds of years, with some scholars suggesting that the poem eulogizes either a common house sparrow or the Italian sparrow, and that the bird was a gift from the narrator to the woman, explaining the poet's identification with the sparrow.
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In Japanese, 'chin chin' is an onomatopoeia for a bird's cry
The association between male chickens and the penis in various languages is an intriguing topic. In Spanish, for instance, "pollo" means chicken, while "polla" is slang for penis, although it originally meant female chicken. Similarly, "la pinga" and "la verga" are feminine slang terms for the penis. This association may stem from the aggressive nature of roosters and their primary role in procreation. The English word "cock," referring to a male chicken, is also one of the oldest in the language, tracing back to Old Norse "kokkr," imitating the bird's sound.
Now, in Japanese, "chin chin" is indeed an onomatopoeia for a bird's cry, specifically the cry of the plover, as mentioned in Yamaguchi Nakami's book on birdsong through the ages, "Chin-chin chidori no naku koe wa" ("Chin chin, the plover's cry"). This expression is not limited to Japanese; in Tanokuchi and Tomiyama, there is a belief about night sparrows, or "yosuzume," where the incantation "birds that cry chi, chi, chi" is used to ward off bad luck associated with these birds. The sound "chi, chi, chi" mimics the chirping of sparrows.
The use of "chin chin" as an onomatopoeia for a bird's cry in Japanese is a fascinating example of how languages incorporate sound representations into their vocabulary. Onomatopoeia, or mimetic words, are used to describe sounds and are often based on the resemblance between the sound and the word used to describe it. In the case of "chin chin," it captures the essence of a bird's cry in a way that is easily recognizable and expressive in Japanese.
While the origin of the word "chin chin" in Japanese is specific to the language and culture, it is interesting to note that onomatopoeias for bird sounds are prevalent in various languages. For example, in English, the word "tweet" is commonly associated with the sound of a bird, and it has even become synonymous with the social media platform Twitter, showcasing how onomatopoeias can influence popular culture.
In conclusion, the expression "chin chin" in Japanese is an onomatopoeia for a bird's cry, specifically that of a plover, and it holds cultural significance within the language. This example highlights the creative ways in which languages evolve to incorporate sound representations, contributing to the richness and expressiveness of human communication.
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The word 'cock' is imitative of the sound a rooster makes
The word "cock" to refer to a male chicken is one of the oldest in the English language. It is traced as far back as Old Norse "kokkr" and is imitative of the sound the bird makes. In English, the onomatopoeia for the sound a rooster makes is "cock-a-doodle-doo", though in other languages, it is different, such as in German, where the word is "kikeriki".
The word "cock" is also used as slang for the penis, derived from the aggressive male nature of roosters and their role on a farm as a procreation partner. Roosters are known to be proud-looking and strut around, making a lot of noise. Similarly, the slang term "pecker" has the same origin, derived from what roosters do, which is to peck a lot, as all chickens do. In British slang, "pecker" can also refer to one's morale, as in the phrase "keep your pecker up!".
In Spanish, "polla" is a word that has an extended meaning as slang for the penis, though its original meaning is a female chicken. In Spanish, there are also other feminine words for the penis, such as "la pinga" and "la verga", and masculine slang terms for the vagina, such as "el coño" and "el chocho".
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Roosters are known for strutting around and pecking
The term "cock" to refer to male chickens is one of the oldest words in the English language, traced as far back as Old Norse "kokkr", imitative of the sound the bird makes. Roosters are known for strutting around and pecking. They are often aggressive and bully the hens, leaving them with bald spots and wounds. This behaviour is caused by boredom, insufficient hens, insufficient space, or an inadequate diet. Roosters peck hens on their backs and heads as a signal that they would like to mate. This is known as courting or "treading" behaviour. During mating, the rooster stands on the hen's back, holding her neck feathers with his beak and steadying himself with his feet. This activity is known as treading.
In Spanish, "polla" means female chicken, but it is also slang for penis. "La pinga" and "la verga" are also slang terms for penis, and these are feminine. "El coño" and "el chocho" are masculine slang terms for vagina. In British slang, "pecker" can refer to your spirits or morale, as in, "Keep your pecker up!". This usage comes from the manner of roosters, which often looks proud to humans.
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Frequently asked questions
It doesn't. However, in many languages, there is a slang term for the penis that is derived from the word for a male chicken. For example, in English, the words "cock" and "pecker" are derived from the word "cock," meaning a male chicken. In Chinese, the word "鸡鸡" ("jī jī") is used as a slang term for the penis, and in Portuguese, the words "pinto" and "rola" are used, which mean "chick" and "dove", respectively.
One theory suggests that the arrogance and cockiness roosters exhibit in front of humans inspired the use of the word as a slang term for the penis. Roosters are often associated with wild masculinity and sexual prowess, which may have led to the association with the penis. Additionally, in some languages, slang terms for testicles come from words meaning "eggs", which may have contributed to the association with male chickens.
The Chinese word "鸡鸡" (jī jī) and the English word "cock" are both used as slang terms for the penis and are derived from the word for a male chicken in their respective languages. However, it is unclear if the two words are directly related or if they evolved independently in their respective languages.
Yes, in addition to male chickens, other birds have been used as slang for the penis in various languages. For example, in English, the phrase "flip the bird" is used, and in Portuguese, the word "rola" (dove) is used. In Latin, the word "passer" (sparrow) may have been used as slang for the penis, although this is still debated.
The first recorded usage of the word "cock" referring to the penis took place in a play called "The Custom of the Country" by John Fletcher, who is considered by many to be Shakespeare's equal rival.
