A gamecock is a rooster that is bred for fighting
. Gamecocks are known for their fierceness and are often used in cockfighting, which dates back at least 6,000 years
. In South Carolina, the gamecock has historical and symbolic significance, as it is associated with the state's military leader during the American Revolution, Thomas Sumter, whose nickname was the Gamecock
. The University of South Carolina's sports teams, the South Carolina Gamecocks, and its student newspaper, The Daily Gamecock, also use the gamecock as their mascot and namesake
