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
(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."
