Coxcomb
(Cox"comb`) n. [A corrupted spelling of cock's comb.]
1. (a) A strip of red cloth notched like the comb of a cock, which licensed jesters formerly wore in their
caps. (b) The cap itself.
2. The top of the head, or the head itself.
We will belabor you a little better,
And beat a little more care into your coxcombs.
Beau & Fl.
3. A vain, showy fellow; a conceited, silly man, fond of display; a superficial pretender to knowledge or
accomplishments; a fop.
Fond to be seen, she kept a bevy
Of powdered coxcombs at her levee.
Goldsmith.
Some are bewildered in the maze of schools,
And some made coxcombs, nature meant but fools.
Pope.
4. (Bot.) A name given to several plants of different genera, but particularly to Celosia cristata, or
garden cockscomb. Same as Cockscomb.
Coxcombical
(Cox*comb"ic*al) a. Befitting or indicating a coxcomb; like a coxcomb; foppish; conceited.
— Cox*comb"ic*al*ly, adv.
Studded all over in coxcombical fashion with little brass nails.
W. Irving.
Coxcombly
(Cox"comb"ly) a. like a coxcomb. [Obs.] "You coxcombly ass, you!" Beau. & Fl.
Coxcombry
(Cox"comb`ry) n. The manners of a coxcomb; foppishness.
Coxcomical
(Cox*com"ic*al) a. Coxcombical. [R.]
Coxcomically
(Cox*com"ic*al*ly), adv. Conceitedly. [R.]
Coxswain
(Cox"swain`) n. See Cockswain.
Coy
(Coy) a. [OE. coi quiet, still, OF. coi, coit, fr.L. quietus quiet, p. p. of quiescere to rest, quie
rest; prob. akin to E. while. See While, and cf. Quiet, Quit, Quite.]
1. Quiet; still. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Shrinking from approach or familiarity; reserved; bashful; shy; modest; — usually applied to women,
sometimes with an implication of coquetry.
Coy, and difficult to win.
Cowper.
Coy and furtive graces.
W. Irving.
Nor the coy maid, half willings to be pressed,
Shall kiss the cup, to pass it to the rest.
Goldsmith.
3. Soft; gentle; hesitating.
Enforced hate,
Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee.
Shak.
Syn. — Shy; shriking; reserved; modest; bashful; backward; distant.
Coy
(Coy), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coyed (koid); p. pr. & vb. n. Coying.]
