Why is a cockpit called so?

Answer 1

A cockpit was a pit used for cockfighting, where owners would pit fighting birds against each other for the purpose of gambling. In the 16th century, it was used to mean a place of entertainment or frenzied activity. William Shakespeare used the term in Henry V to specifically mean the area around the stage of a theater. In 1759, the English artist William Hogarth produced a satirical print called The Cockpit showing the enthusiasm of the gamblers during a cockfight. Belgium is sometimes known as the "Cockpit of Europe."

Answer 2

The experts are sure that it does come, as its name might suggest, from a place where c-o-c-k (stupid edit won't let you write cock) rooster fights were held.


The term cockpit was used to refer to a compartment belowdecks on a British naval vessel beginning around 1700. The often cramped and confined compartment was placed below the waterline and served as quarters for junior officers as well as for treating the wounded during battle. Although the purpose of this compartment evolved over time, its name did not. Even today, a room on the lower deck of a yacht or motor boat where the crew quarters are located is often called a cockpit. In addition, the rudder control space from which a vessel is steered is sometimes called a cockpit since a watchman in the highest position is called a cock, and a cavity in any vessel is called a pit.

This sense of the word, as an often confined space used for control purposes, was first applied to an aircraft around 1914 by pilots during World War I. In keeping with this same meaning, the tightly confined control space of a racing automobile also became known as a cockpit by about 1935.

Answer 3

In the early 18th century the term was in nautical use. The term cockpit denoted an area in the aft lower deck of a man-of-war where the wounded were taken, later coming to mean the pit or well in a sailing ship from which it was steered. It became a term meaning the place housing the controls of other vehiclesincluding airplanes.

Answer 4

It is the artificial Horizon also known as the AI or Attitude indicator. It is half black (indicating the ground) and half blue (indicating the sky). It is a gyroscopic instument that when set the V or "w" as you say indicates whether the aircraft is nose up/nose down wings level or banked in relation to the black and blue background (and some markings on the sides that indicate angle of bank). The gyro is usually electrically powered. You want to keep a good eye on this when flying!

Answer 5

its was a sexist term meant for men... nowadays female pilots call it poossy pit also

Answer 6

i guess the front of really old planes looked like a vagina

Answer 7

Because they are enjoying cocktail inside --- Margarita