What does rooster mean?
Rooster is the ordinary English name for an adult male chicken. It most often refers to the conspicuous farmyard bird known for its bright comb and wattles, developed spurs, and loud crowing, although the word can also identify a male chicken in any setting. In North American English it is the standard everyday term, while British speakers more commonly use cock; rooster remains familiar and is sometimes used for clarity or a more descriptive tone. The word is also familiar through the traditional expression “cock-a-doodle-doo” and through the rooster’s long-standing role as a symbol of dawn, alertness, and rural life. In figurative language, references to a rooster may evoke crowing, bravado, pride, or a conspicuous display, but the word remains primarily a straightforward name for the bird rather than a specialized term.
nounAn adult male chicken, distinguished by the prominent comb and wattles, developed wattles, spurs, and characteristic crowing.
- An adult male chicken, especially one kept on a farm or in a small domestic flock.
"The rooster crowed before sunrise as the farmer walked across the yard."
"A colorful rooster strutted across the coop while the hens scattered."
"In the story, the farmer follows the crow of a rooster to find his missing hens."
The regular plural is formed by adding -s; the plural of rooster is roosters.
"Two roosters guarded opposite ends of the yard."
A rooster is the farmyard alarm clock—and its distinctive dawn chorus has made it a familiar symbol of morning in songs, stories, and everyday speech.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rooster come from?
Rooster was formed in English from roost and the suffix -er, a combination associated with a bird that roosts or occupies the roost. Its base word, roost, comes from Old English hrost, meaning a bird roost, and ultimately has Germanic roots. The compound reflects the traditional prominence of the male bird perched above the flock.
How rooster is actually used
Rooster is the usual everyday term in North American English. In British English, cock is more common, although rooster is readily understood and sometimes used.
Easily confused with rooster
A rooster is an adult male chicken, whereas a cockerel is a young male chicken.