coxcomb

[koks-kohm]

noun

1. a conceited, foolish dandy; pretentious fop.

   Synonyms: jackanapes, popinjay, dude

2. Archaic.,  head; pate.

3. Obsolete.,  cockscomb.

coxcomb

/ ˈkɒksˌkəʊm /

noun

1. a variant spelling of cockscomb

2. archaic,  a foppish man

3. obsolete,  the cap, resembling a cock's comb, worn by a jester

Other Word Forms

• coxcombical adjective
• coxcombic adjective
• coxcombically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of coxcomb¹

First recorded in 1565–75; spelling variant of cockscomb

Example Sentences

He told me that Serjeant Clippinger had howled when he had seen it, jeering that the woman had sewn it wrong, and it was a perfect fit for a three-toothed black coxcomb like himself.

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Stone, a coxcomb who occasionally texts reporters pictures of outfits he’s particularly proud of, no doubt already has his congressional-testimony suit picked out.

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Johnson had already said of his former friend, “Hawkesworth is grown a coxcomb, and I have done with him”.

Read more on The Guardian

And here’s Charles Dickens, a preening coxcomb prepared to spend eternity congratulating himself on his own literary reputation.

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J “Move along, you coxcomb,” Ignatius belched, the gassy eructations echoing between the walls of the alley.

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