gamecock
UK[ˈɡeɪmkɒk]US[ˈɡeɪmkɑːk]
n
A rooster of a breed trained and used for cockfighting.
n
A person with a fighting spirit; a plucky or aggressive individual.
Morpheme Breakdown
game
cock
game
contest, sport
cock
male chicken
Etymology
The word 'gamecock' is a transparent English compound formed from two native Old English roots. 'Game' evolved from 'gamen', broadly meaning joy, sport, or amusement, which narrowed to signify a contest with rules. 'Cock' has consistently referred to the male domestic fowl. The compound directly and literally describes a rooster bred and trained for the 'game' or sport of cockfighting. Over time, the term's semantic field expanded metaphorically to describe a person possessing the aggressive, tenacious spirit characteristic of such a bird in combat.
Analysis
Structure: game (contest, sport) + cock (male chicken)
- game: From Old English 'gamen' (sport, fun, amusement). In this compound, it carries the sense of a contest or activity involving competition and skill.
- cock: From Old English 'cocc' (male bird, rooster). It denotes the specific animal at the center of the contest.
Examples
The farm was known for breeding champion gamecocks.
Despite his small size, he was a real gamecock in the debate.
Laws prohibiting the possession of gamecocks have been enacted in many regions.