Hypertext Webster Gateway: "cockatrice"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Cockatrice
the mediaeval name (a corruption of "crocodile") of a fabulous
serpent supposed to be produced from a cock's egg. It is
generally supposed to denote the cerastes, or "horned viper," a
very poisonous serpent about a foot long. Others think it to be
the yellow viper (Daboia xanthina), one of the most dangerous
vipers, from its size and its nocturnal habits (Isa. 11:8;
14:29; 59:5; Jer. 8:17; in all which the Revised Version renders
the Hebrew _tziph'oni_ by "basilisk"). In Prov. 23:32 the Hebrew
_tzeph'a_ is rendered both in the Authorized Version and the
Revised Version by "adder;" margin of Revised Version
"basilisk," and of Authorized Version "cockatrice."
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Cockatrice \Cock"a*trice\ (-tr[imac]s; 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}.
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
Note: [Rev. Ver. basilisk's] den. --Is. xi. 8.
4. Any venomous or deadly thing.
This little cockatrice of a king. --Bacon.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
cockatrice
n : monster hatched by a reptile from a cock's egg; able to kill
with a glance
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