A male bird, especially a rooster or male fowl, or any bird characterized as male and aggressive.
Compound of cock (rooster/male) and bird. Used since medieval times to specifically denote the masculine gender in avian species, differentiating from 'hen' for females.
In old animal husbandry texts, cockbirds were scientifically valued not just for reproduction but because they were believed to carry more 'vigor' and health benefits—a medieval belief that later influenced agricultural selection of breeding stock.
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