cocky

[kok-ee]

adjective, cock·i·er, cock·i·est.

arrogant; pertly self-assertive; conceited: He walked in with a cocky air.

Origin of cocky

First recorded in 1540–50; cock¹ + -y¹

Related formscock·i·ly, adverbcock·i·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cockily

Historical Examples of cockily

"Well, I'll have you to understand, sergeant—" bristled Hetherington, cockily.
A Little Book of Christmas
John Kendrick Bangs
"That's the Queen o' Kentucky, sir," replied the other cockily.
Boy Woodburn
Alfred Ollivant
The strut properly speaking began at the tip of his hat–his soft, black hat that sat so cockily upon his head.
In the Heart of a Fool
William Allen White
"Eldorado," he said once, cockily, as if he remembered something from the Spanish part of his background.
The Planet Strappers
Raymond Zinke Gallun

British Dictionary definitions for cockily

cocky

adjective cockier or cockiest

excessively proud of oneself

Derived Formscockily, adverb

cocky

noun plural cockies Australian informal

short for cockatoo (def. 2)

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cockily

cocky

adj.

"arrogantly pert," 1768; originally "lecherous" (1540s); from cock (n.1) + -y (2). Related: Cockiness.