cockscomb

American  

[koks-kohm] / ˈkɒksˌkoʊm /

noun

1. the comb or caruncle of a cock.

2. the cap, resembling a cockscomb, formerly worn by professional fools.

3. 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.

4. any of several other species of the genus Celosia.

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

6. a gaslight burner having four or more jets.

7. coxcomb.

---

cockscomb British  

/ ˈkɒksˌkəʊm /

noun

1. the comb of a domestic cock

2. 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

3. any similar species of Celosia

4. informal a conceited dandy

---

Etymology

Origin of cockscomb

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at cock ¹, 's ¹, comb

Example Sentences

Only when I stooped to read the label for one velvety red blossom — it was a cockscomb, Celosia “Dracula” — did I notice the knee-high, cast-foam black vulture that was sitting watchfully beside it.

From New York Times • Jun. 15, 2023

Workers had set up tables outside the market so Garcia, his wife and others could wrap marigold and cockscomb bouquets in plastic.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 2, 2022

The golf ball-shaped cold-water fish is now on display, for a limited time, in the eelgrass area of the aquarium’s Puget Sound Fish alongside the sailfin sculpin and high cockscomb.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 28, 2022

The seats, some separated by a stack of wood, are still spaced out, and the tables display hand sanitizer along with a glass-enclosed candle and a cockscomb plant.

From Washington Post • Jun. 9, 2021

There was the twist round the head, the cockscomb, the hanging piece of liripipe.

From English Costume by Calthrop, Dion Clayton

Related Words

• ridge