cockscomb

[ koks-kohm ]

/ ˈkɒksˌkoʊm /

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See synonyms for cockscomb on Thesaurus.com

noun

the comb or caruncle of a cock.

the cap, resembling a cock'scomb, formerly worn by professional fools.

a garden plant, Celosia cristata, of the amaranth family, with flowers, commonly crimson or purple, in a broad spike somewhat resembling the comb of a cock.

any of several other species of the genus Celosia.

an elongate prickleback, Anoplarchus purpurescens, living among submerged rocks along the Pacific coast of North America.

a gaslight burner having four or more jets.

coxcomb (def. 1).

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Origin of cockscomb

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at cock¹, 's¹, comb

Words nearby cockscomb

cock of the walk, cock of the woods, cockpit, cockroach, cock rock, cockscomb, cock's-foot, cockshot, cockshut, cockshy, cockspur

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use cockscomb in a sentence

Celosia cristata is the well known Cockscomb, having combs or heads of scarlet, crimson, rose and yellow.
The Practical Garden-Book|C. E. Hunn
Getting tired, I took out my sketch-book and drew Lubuga, the pet, which amused the king immensely as he recognised her cockscomb.
The Discovery of the Source of the Nile|John Hanning Speke
His hair was cut short, with the exception of a ridge on the top which ran stem to stern, like a cockscomb.
Great African Travellers|W.H.G. Kingston
If an unmodified Celosia could be got, it would be well to test with the modified cockscomb.
More Letters of Charles Darwin|Charles Darwin

The wild cockscomb (Amaranthus Cruentus) also furnished a portion of their supply.
The Cliff Climbers|Captain Mayne Reid

British Dictionary definitions for cockscomb

cockscomb

coxcomb

/ (ˈkɒksˌkəʊm) /

noun

the comb of a domestic cock

an amaranthaceous garden or pot plant, Celosia cristata, with yellow, crimson, or purple feathery plumelike flowers in a broad spike resembling the comb of a cock

any similar species of Celosia

informal a conceited dandy

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

cockscomb

Origin of cockscomb

Words nearby cockscomb

Words related to cockscomb

How to use cockscomb in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cockscomb

coxcomb