subs. phr. (American).—A man of importance; a HOWLING SWELL (q.v.); sometimes THE GILDED ROOSTER ON THE TOP OF THE STEEPLE. Cf., BIG-BUG; BIG DOG OF THE TANYARD, etc.
1888. New York Herald. We admit that as a metropolis Chicago is the GILDED ROOSTER ON TOP OF THE STEEPLE, but even GILDED ROOSTERS have no right to the whole corn bin.
