Words & TermsWork, bush and rural life
cocky
Also: cockie
A cockatoo; historically also a farmer in compounds such as cow cocky.
In a sentence
In this historical or contextual use, “cocky” means a cockatoo; historically also a farmer in compounds such as cow cocky.
Where it came from
Australian English developed a distinctive family of cocky senses beyond the general adjective 'conceited'.
- Initial era
- 1950–1999
- Where used
- Australian use; no narrower regional pattern established