“(unless you want to get all pedantic, and consider pulling the trigger as cocking it)”
Pendantic? Hardly. Even Glock describe clocking as a basic operation of their pistols.
Unless you are being intentionally ignorant, revolvers (and most semi-automatics with a chambered round) will fire a live round when the trigger is pulled.
What the H3LL is “clocking” ?
You are technically correct. Single-action automatic handguns are cocked when the slide is racked, either manually or after the handgun is fired as a result of recoil. With a double-action revolver both cocking and firing are accomplished with a single trigger pull. A single-action revolver requires the shooter to cock the hammer before firing the weapon with the trigger.