ˈcock-tread
[cf. Ger. Hahnen-tritt.]
The opaque speck or germinal vesicle on the surface of the yolk in an impregnated egg. Also, in earlier use, cock-treading.
| 1573 Art of Limning 3 Take the whites of egges not breaking them in anye wise, but take out the cocketreading. 1654 Gayton Pleasant Notes ii. ii, Cock tread. 1655 Queen's Closet Opened 47 (D.) Take the cock-treading of twelve eggs and the white of one egge. 1682 G. Hartman Preserver & Restorer of Health 86 Take the Cock-tread, and put it into the shell again. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia s.v. Cock's-tread. |