WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Cock"a*trice (-tris; 277), n. [OF. cocatrice crocodile, F. cocatrix, cocatrice. The word is a corruption from the same source as E. crocodile, but was confused with cock the bird, F. coq
Part of Speech : whence
Definition : 1. A fabulous serpent whose breath and look were said to be fatal. See Basilisk.

That bare vowel, I, shall poison more Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice. Shak.

2. (Her.) A representation of this serpent. It has the head, wings, and legs of a bird, and tail of a serpent.

3. (Script.) A venomous serpent which which cannot now be identified.

The weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's [Rev. Ver. basilisk's] den. Is. xi. 8.

4. Any venomous or deadly thing.

This little cockatrice of a king. Bacon.

arose the fable that the animal was produced from a cock's egg. See Crocodile.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913