Also 6–7 Turkicock(e. [f. TURKEY1 + COCK sb.1 In the 16th c. synonymous with Guinea-cock or Guinea-fowl, an African bird known to the ancients (the μελεαγρίς of Aristotle, meleagris of Varro and Pliny), the American bird being at first identified with or treated as a species of this. The African bird is believed to have been so called as originally imported through the Turkish dominions; it was called Guinea-fowl when brought by the Portuguese from Guinea in West Africa. After the two birds were distinguished and the names differentiated, turkey was erroneously retained for the American bird, instead of the African. From the same imperfect knowledge and confusion Meleagris, the ancient name of the African fowl, was unfortunately adopted by Linnæus as the generic name of the American bird.]
† 1. Of doubtful meaning (? = sense 2 or 3): in quot. 1555 perh. the Curassow. Obs.
1541. Constitutio T. Cranmeri, in Wilkins, Concilia (1737), III. 862. It was also provided, that of the greater fyshes or fowles there should be but one in a dishe, as crane, swan, turkeycocke, hadocke, pyke, tench.
1555. Eden, Decades, 79. The inhabitantes of Paria … gaue them also a greate multitude of theyr peacockes [L. pavones]. [margin] Paria. Peacockes whiche wee caule Turkye cockes.
1561. in Rogers, Agric. & Prices, III. 195/4. Oxford…. Turkey Cocks @ 5/-.
1579. E. Hake, Newes Powles Churchyarde, iv. D ij b. He must prouide … Both Peacock, Crane, and Turkicock.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. 165. In time of Memory things haue bene brought in that were not here before, as … the Turky cocks and hennes about fifty yeres past.
† 2. The male of the Guinea-fowl, Numida meleagris: cf. TURKEY2 1, TURKEY-HEN 1. Obs.
1577. B. Googe, trans. Heresbach’s Husb. (1586), 12 b. Here I keepe Geese, Duckes, Peacocks, Turkicockes, and other poultry.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XI. xxxvii. I. 331. The Ginnie or Turkie Cockes and Hens.
3. The male of the turkey.
1578. T. N[icholas], trans. Conq. W. India, 38. They … brought bread and fruite and eyght Turkie Cockes.
1588. Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China, vi. 322. You shall buy there [in Mexico] … a whole sheepe for foure rials, and two hennes, such as you haue in Spaine for one riall, and of Ginny hennes, otherwise called Turkey cockes, and in Spanish Pauos, you shall haue an hundred thousande … for a riall and a halfe of plate a peece.
1592. Shuttleworths’ Acc. (Chetham), 73. A turkye coke and a hene iijs.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., V. i. 15. Gower. Why heere hee comes, swelling like a Turky-cock. Flu. ’Tis no matter for his swellings, nor his Turky-cocks, God plesse you aunchient Pistoll.
1616. R. C., Times’ Whistle, iii. 1095. And swell in big lookes like some turkie cocke.
1668. Charleton, Onomast., 72. Gallopavo … the Turky-Cock.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, IV. lix. (1737), 243. Hortolans. Turkey-Cocks, Hen-Turkeys, and Turkey-poots.
1727. Somerville, Bowling-green, 58. No turkey-cock appears with better grace, His garments black, vermilion paints his face.
1727. Swift, Country Post, Wks. 1755, III. I. 176. An old turkey-cock attacked a maid in a red petticoat, and she retired with great precipitation.
1760. Edwards, in Phil. Trans., LI. 836. Whether this bird be produced from a turkey-hen and a cock-pheasant, or from a turkey-cock and hen-pheasant, no one knows.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xxxiv. The idea … mantled the blood in my cheeks till I was as red as a turkey-cock.
1855. Poultry Chron., III. 149/2. Turkey Cock and one Hen.
b. fig. and allusively. Also attrib.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. v. 36. Contemplation makes a rare Turkey Cocke of him, how he iets vnder his aduanc’d plumes.
1650. B., Discolliminium, 2. Which makes him write with such a Turky-Cocks quill, too … censoriously.
a. 1849. J. C. Mangan, Poems (1859), 428. Thy snub nose … And thy turkey-cock air.
