Inspired by this question, what are are the feminine and gender-neutral equivalents of a ‘henpecked husband’?
Would it be correct to say ‘cockpecked wife’ (even though that sounds dreadful) and ‘birdpecked’ or ‘bepecked spouse’?
adjectivesgender-neutralgender-positivenouns
Inspired by this question, what are are the feminine and gender-neutral equivalents of a ‘henpecked husband’?
Would it be correct to say ‘cockpecked wife’ (even though that sounds dreadful) and ‘birdpecked’ or ‘bepecked spouse’?
Best Answer
Cock-pecked is the traditional counterpart, as the cock (or rooster) is the male counterpart to the hen.
The Oxford English Dictionary puts its first use in 1753:
The 1912 Dictionary of Slang and Colloquial English puts it thus:
It is uncommon today, thank God, but it comes up occasionally in song lyrics and other places. Here's Yoko Ono: