Bible Dictionaries
Cockatrice

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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 (Isaiah 11:8; 14:29; 59:5; Jeremiah 8:17; in all which the Revised Version renders the Hebrew Tziph'oni By "basilisk"). In Proverbs 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."