coquette
Americannoun
verb (used without object)
noun
-
a woman who flirts
-
any hummingbird of the genus Lophornis, esp the crested Brazilian species L. magnifica
Gender
What's the difference between coquette and coquet? See -ette.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of coquette
First recorded in 1605–15; from French, feminine of coquet
Explanation
A coquette is a flirt, a girl or woman who knows how to flatter and manipulate men with her charms in order to get what she wants. Coquette sounds French, and it is, borrowed into English from French in the mid-17th century. It's the feminine diminutive form of coq, which means "cock, a male bird" — so coquette refers to a little female bird, and, in fact, it's also the name of a kind of colorful hummingbird found in Latin America. If you imagine a coquette as a flamboyant little bird flitting about and teasing the male birds, you'll have a good picture of a coquette.
Vocabulary lists containing coquette
Power Suffix: -ette
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"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 15
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"The Night Before Christmas" by Nikolai Gogol
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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.
He soon found himself in that kitchen, and eventually worked his way up to serving as chef de cuisine at Coquette, a repeat James Beard Award nominee.
From Salon • Jul. 30, 2022
Executive chef Kristen Essig comes to Washington from the Big Easy, where she co-owned one of its most beloved restaurants, Coquette.
From Washington Post • Jun. 22, 2021
Eagle Harbor Winery pours at patio tables at the Winslow Mall next to the Coquette Bake Shop.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 17, 2020
She also created the role of the Coquette in his Night Shadow.
From The Guardian • Apr. 14, 2013
The Coquette was almost the last to start.
From Wyn's Camping Days or, The Outing of the Go-Ahead Club by Marlowe, Amy Bell
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.
