On a slight tangent : reading John B. Keane the Irish writer. In one story he tells about a local saying "it's a cock walk" in reference to something short. He explains that a cock-rooster stands tall and stiff and takes high short steps.
Makes sense to me from roosters I have seen. Keane lived and worked in Listowell, on the south west coast of Ireland. he died a few years ago and was founder of Listowell Writers Conference. http://www.johnbkeane.com/