[= COCKSCOMB.]
† 1. A cap worn by a professional fool, like a cock’s comb in shape and color; = COCKSCOMB 2. Obs.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 24. He … shall striue for a coxcome, and thriue as a daw.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., II. i. 226. What is your Crest, a Coxcombe? Ibid. (1605), Lear, I. iv. 116. Fool. If thou follow him, thou must needs weare my Coxcombe.
† 2. A ludicrous appellation for the head; = COCKSCOMB 3. Obs.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., V. i. 57. The skinne is good for your broken Coxcombe. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., V. i. 193. If a bloody coxcombe be a hurt, you haue hurt me.
1624. Ford, Sun’s Darling, III. i. (1656), 19. The Knight broke his coxcomb.
1694. Southerne, Fatal Marriage, I. ii. 10. I shall take an occasion to score him over the Coxcomb, when I see him agen.
1704. W. S. Perry, Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch., I. 181. Where each one drank a lusty dose His Stupid Coxcombe to dispose To form the accusation.
1866. Kingsley, Herew., II. xiv. 242. Who may have seen them come in … with bleeding coxcombs.
3. A fool, simpleton (obs.); now, a foolish, conceited, showy person, vain of his accomplishments, appearance or dress; a fop; ‘a superficial pretender to knowledge or accomplishments’ (J.).
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 147. His looke like a coxcombe, vp puffed with pride.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 2. It were the part of a madman or a coxcome to runne headlong without any profite into danger.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. i. 79. If the Enemie is an Asse and a Foole, and a prating Coxcombe; is it meet, thinke you, that wee should also, looke you, be an Asse and a Foole, and a prating Coxcombe, in your owne conscience now? Ibid. (1604), Oth., V. ii. 234. Oh murd’rous Coxcombe, what should such a Foole Do with so good a wife?
1667. Pepys, Diary (1879), IV. 236. A vain coxcomb he is, though he sings and composes so well.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., XVI. (1843), 867/2. Oliver … was a brave fellow … but that Richard, that coxcomb … was surely the basest fellow alive.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull, III. vi. I told him, ‘He was a coxcomb, always pretending to be wiser than his companions!’
1765. Goldsm., Double Transform., 54. Fond to be seen she kept a bevy Of powdered coxcombs at her levy.
1803. Mackintosh, Def. Peltier, Wks. 1846, III. 259. Those shallow, atheistical coxcombs whom his satire was intended to scourge.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Character, 134. Wellington said of the young coxcombs of the Life-Guards delicately brought up, ‘but the puppies fight well.’
† b. Applied to a woman. Obs.
1634. Massinger, Very Woman, III. ii. Cuculo. You tried my wife. Alas! you thought she was foolish … you have not found it. Pedro. I have found a pair of coxcombs.
1752. Fielding, Amelia, VII. iv. [Mrs. Bennet speaking] Latin … said [my aunt] had made me a downright coxcomb.
† 4. As a name of various plants; = COCKSCOMB 5.
1578. [see COCKSCOMB 5 a].
1678. Phillips, Coxcomb, a sort of Herb, otherwise called Yellow Rattle.
1756. Sir J. Hill, Herbal, 119. Coxcomb, Pedicularis. The flower consists of a single petal, and approaches to the labiated kind.
† 5. ? A kind of lace with an edging like a cock’s comb. Obs.
1693. Lond. Gaz., No. 2862/4. A Point Nightrail 3 quarters deep, middle-siz’d flowers and Coxcomb loops.
1760. C. Johnston, Chrysal, I. xi. 85 (D.). To trim his light grey frock with a silver edging of coxcombe.
6. attrib. and Comb. a. simple attrib.
1782. J. Warton, Ess. Pope, II. xii. 309. The conceit of coxcomb-pyes and coxcombs, sink it below the original.
1794. Mathias, Purs. Lit. (1798), 327. Tir’d and jaded with the coxcomb strains.
1838–9. Hallam, Hist. Lit., vi. III. § 67. III. 326. The easy dupes of coxcomb manners from the court.
1848. Clough, Amours de Voyage, I. 144. In coxcomb exultation, Here in the garden I walk.
b. Comb., as coxcomb-hunting; coxcomb-proof adj.; † coxcomb-bird, a parrot.
1681. Otway, Soldier’s Fort., III. i. One would imagine you were gone a coxcomb-hunting by this time.
1703. Rowe, Ulyss., Prol. I. 18. She was coxcomb Proof.
1732. Pope, Ep. Cobham, 5. The coxcomb Bird, so talkative and grave.
Hence various nonce-wds. Coxcombalities, pl. things coxcombical. Coxcombess, a female coxcomb. Coxcombhood, the condition or status of a coxcomb. Coxcomby a., belonging to or characteristic of a coxcomb.
1831. Mrs. Trollope, Dom. Mann. Amer., xxx. (1839), 281. Nick nacks, bronzes, busts, cameos, and alabaster vases … in short, all the coxcomalities of the drawing-room.
1827. Lamb, Lett. to Barton, 4 Dec. Would to the fifth heaven no coxcombess had invented Albums!
1845. Blackw. Mag., LVIII. 243. In the potent prime of coxcombhood. Ibid. (1885), 641/2. A costume condemned as coxcomby.
