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definitions

cocky

1
[kok-ee]
adjective, cock·i·er, cock·i·est.
  1. arrogant; pertly self-assertive; conceited: He walked in with a cocky air.

Origin of cocky

1
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. 2018

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

1
adjective cockier or cockiest
  1. excessively proud of oneself
Derived Formscockily, adverb

cocky

2
noun plural cockies Australian informal
  1. short for cockatoo (def. 2)
  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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper