cockatrice (plural cockatrices)

1. (mythology) A legendary creature about the size and shape of a dragon or wyvern, but in appearance resembling a giant rooster, with some lizard-like characteristics.

   cot en

   Hypernyms: chimera

   • , The Spell of Egypt

     “Peace reigns in happy Luxor. The lion lies down with the lamb, and the child, if it will, may harmlessly put its hand into the cockatrice’s den.”

2. (obsolete) Mistress, harlot.
3. (fantasy, folklore) A snake or serpent that appears to be hatched of a rooster, or cock's, egg.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Jeremiah 8:17 ↗:

     For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.

4. (speculated) The cobra.
5. (obsolete, figurative) Any venomous or deadly thing.
   • 1622, Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban [i.e. Francis Bacon], The Historie of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh, […], London: Printed by W[illiam] Stansby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret, OCLC 1086746628 ↗:

     this little cockatrice of a king

• French: cocatrix
• Italian: coccatrice
• Portuguese: cocatrice
• Spanish: cocatriz