Definition

A young male chicken, especially one that is not yet fully grown.

Example

The farmer raised a cockerel alongside the hens in the coop.

Conversation

Have you seen that little cockerel in the backyard?

Yeah, it's so cute! I can't believe how loud it is already.

I know, right? It wakes me up every morning.

But it's nice to have a little bit of farm life around the house.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cockerel → The word originates from Middle English 'cokere' (meaning a young male chicken) and is derived from 'cok' (meaning rooster) with the diminutive suffix '-erel' indicating a smaller or younger version. Thus, 'cockerel' refers to a young rooster or a small male chicken.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'young rooster' — the word 'cockerel' combines 'cok' for rooster and the diminutive '-erel' to show it's a smaller version.

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