cockalorum
Americannoun
noun
-
a self-important little man
-
bragging talk; crowing
Etymology
Origin of cockalorum
First recorded in 1705–15; pseudo-Latin, equivalent to cock + fanciful -al- + Latin genitive plural ending -ōrum; see cock 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the thunderous heyday of Prohibition gangsterism, Roger the Terrible was the jaunty cockalorum of northwest Cook County.
From Time Magazine Archive
Dizzy Gillespie, the high cockalorum of bop, was getting top billing at the rival Strand Theater.
From Time Magazine Archive
Other plotters are Vincent Price and Edith Barrett, whose contributions to the high cockalorum are good, but occasionally strained.
From Time Magazine Archive
Born with no great passion for "the high cockalorum of heroism," De Forest wrote frankly of the nuisance of being shot at, of the multiple woes of a company-grade officer's life.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Hollo, young cockalorum, is it there you are!" shouted Pete.
From The Manxman A Novel - 1895 by Caine, Hall, Sir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
