cocky

¹

[kok-ee]

adjective

cockier, cockiest 

1. arrogant; pertly self-assertive; conceited;

   He walked in with a cocky air.

cocky

²

[kok-ee]

noun

plural

cockies 

1. Australian.

   1. cockatoo.

   2. cockatoo.

2. cockatiel.

cocky

³

[kok-ee]

verb (used without object)

Newfoundland.

cockied, cockying 

1. copy.

cocky

¹

/ ˈkɒkɪ /

noun

1. short for cockatoo

2. a farmer whose farm is regarded as small or of little account

cocky

²

/ ˈkɒkɪ /

adjective

1. excessively proud of oneself

Other Word Forms

• cockily adverb
• cockiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cocky¹

First recorded in 1540–50; cock ¹ + -y ¹

Origin of cocky²

First recorded in 1830–40; cock(atoo), cock(atiel) + -y ²

Origin of cocky³

Apparently a playful alteration, by association with cocky ¹

Example Sentences

A U.S. ambassador to the region called him “rude” and “cocky” in a diplomatic cable later revealed by WikiLeaks.

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Mike was cocky and overconfident and Jordan was just concerned with Megan’s happiness.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He enjoyed talking to the press—candid, free spirited and cocky.

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When I was a kid, people thought I was cocky, but I was just confident.

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Jacob cockily admits that he expects—wants—the night to end in some kind of violent confrontation, it hardly matters with whom.

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Related Words

• arrogant 
• brash 
• cocksure 
• overconfident 
• presumptuous 
• self-confident www.thesaurus.com