Why is a pea related to peacock? [closed]
Solution 1:
“Pea” is an obsolete word for peafowl (and is etymologically unrelated to the vegetable). Like the obsolete “po” and the Scottish “pawn” (which are other words for peafowl), it ultimately comes from the Latin word pāvō/pāvōnem.
You’ll find cognates in other languages, such as German Pfau.
According to the OED, both “pea” and “po” had a part in the formation of peacock/peahen.