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coxcomb

[koks-kohm]
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noun
  1. a conceited, foolish dandy; pretentious fop.
  2. Archaic. head; pate.
  3. Obsolete. cockscomb(def 2).
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Origin of coxcomb

First recorded in 1565–75; spelling variant of cockscomb
Related formscox·comb·i·cal [koks-kom-i-kuhl, -koh-mi-] /kɒksˈkɒm ɪ kəl, -ˈkoʊ mɪ-/, cox·comb·ic, adjectivecox·comb·i·cal·ly, adverb

Synonyms

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1. dude, popinjay, jackanapes.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

fooldandybuckcapdudehingepopinjayfobexquisite

Examples from the Web for coxcomb

Historical Examples

  • Somebody says, that nature may make a fool, but a coxcomb is always of his own making.

    Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)

    Maria Edgeworth

  • Heart, I took it for granted, he had none; how should a coxcomb come by a heart?

  • Whatever might be said of others, thou, at least, wast no coxcomb.

  • Now let him, he has my consent, be as great a coxcomb as ever wore red heels.

  • He felt a desire to tell this coxcomb just what he thought of him.

British Dictionary definitions for coxcomb

coxcomb

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
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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 coxcomb

n.

1570s, from cokkes comb (1560s, see cockscomb).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper