The simple story traces “cockeyed” to the Irish and Gaelic word “caog,” meaning “wink,” especially in the compound “caogshuileach,” meaning “squint-eyed.” I like this theory because agreeing with it means I get to go home early. ... This usage seems a pretty clear precursor to “cockeyed,” at least in the “squint” sense.

What does cockeyed mean slang?

English Language Learners Definition of cockeyed

: turned or tilted to one side : not straight. : crazy or foolish.

Where did the word rooster originate from?

Etymology. According to Merriam-Webster, the term "rooster" (i.e. a roosting bird) originated in the mid- or late 18th century as a euphemism to avoid the sexual connotation of the original English "cock", and is widely used throughout North America. "Roosting" is the action of perching aloft to sleep at night.