coquet

American  

[koh-ket] / koʊˈkɛt /

verb (used without object)

coquetted, coquetting

1. to try to attract the attention and admiration of men for mere self-gratification; flirt.

   Synonyms:

   tease, dally

2. to act without seriousness; trifle; dally.

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adjective

1. coquettish.

noun

1. Obsolete. a male flirt.

coquet British  

/ kəʊˈkɛt, kɒ- /

verb

1. to behave flirtatiously

2. to dally or trifle

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Etymology

Origin of coquet

1685–95; < French; literally, cockerel, equivalent to coq cock + -et -et

Example Sentences

A: I'm afraid I was a bit of a coquet in my youth, but now that I'm a grandmother with an 18-year-old granddaughter, I'm simplifying what I wear.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 1, 2010

But the triumph is Lady Froth, ‘a great coquet, pretender to poetry, wit, and learning,’ and one would almost as lief have seen Mrs. Mountfort in the part as the Bracegirdle’s Millamant. 

From The Comedies of William Congreve Volume 1 [of 2] by Street, G. S. (George Slythe)

“Peter ywotisk, Peter kekoosh, moyout win coquet talenque.”

From Wild Life in the Land of the Giants A Tale of Two Brothers by Stables, Gordon

The petty kings themselves began now to coquet with Tehrak, and to invite his co-operation in an attempt, which they promised they would make, to throw off the yoke of the Assyrians.

From Ancient Egypt by Rawlinson, George

The Graces from the court did next provide Breeding, and wit, and air, and decent pride: These Venus cleans'd from ev'ry spurious grain Of nice coquet, affected, pert, and vain.

From The Poems of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Volume 1 by Browning, William Ernst