Defn: A bird of the Parrot family, of the subfamily Cacatuinæ, having a short, strong, and much curved beak, and the head ornamented with a crest, which can be raised or depressed at will. There are several genera and many species; as the broad-crested (Plictolophus, or Cacatua, cristatus), the sulphur-crested (P. galeritus), etc. The palm or great black cockatoo of Australia is Microglossus aterrimus. Cock"a*trice, n. Etym: [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, whence arose the fable that the animal was produced from a cock's egg. See Crocodile.]
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.)
Defn: A representation of this serpent. It has the head, wings, and legs of a bird, and tail of a serpent.
3. (Script.)
Defn: A venomous serpent which which cannot now be identified.
The weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's
Note: [Rev. Ver. basilisk's] den. Is. xi. 8.
4. Any venomous or deadly thing. This little cockatrice of a king. Bacon.
COCKATRICE 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, whence arose the fable that the animal was produced from a cock's egg. See Crocodile.]
1. A fabulous serpent whose breath and look were said to be fatal. See Basilisk.