Sometimes, even dictionaries can lead you astray. I know of a case where a German wanted to use the word for "Hahn" (= male chicken). The first translation that came up was cock, without any warning attached. (Sure, she was later told that she should have used the term rooster, but still...)
Maybe this is another thing that's different between American and British English? Also, this other meaning of cock always makes me think of what a cock fight must look like. (Never fails to make me giggle.)
Another thing I noticed (as being taught British English at school) is the term "cab", which took me a while to figure out. (Sometimes, I'm just too lazy to look things up.) I was taught to call a cab a taxi. :rolleyes:
