a. Also coxcomical. [f. as prec. + -AL.]
1. Of the nature of or resembling a coxcomb; foolishly conceited; foppish.
1716. Rowe, Biter, II. i. Such a … whimsical coxcomical … kind of a Husband.
1749. Mrs. Delany, Life & Corr. (1861), II. 524. She is a little coxcombical, and affects to be learned.
1820. Examiner, 28 May, 345/1. Some coxcombical bookseller … has introduced the fashion of omitting the words ‘published by’ in the title-pages of the books he publishes.
1852. Dickens, Bleak Ho., xviii. He is … the most coxcomical and utterly brainless ass!
2. Or, pertaining to, or characteristic of a coxcomb.
1770. Mad. D’Arblay, Early Diary. He … assumed a coxcombical assurance and indolence joined.
1820. Scott, Monast., xiv. That singularly coxcomical work, called Euphues and his England.
1844. Kinglake, Eöthen, viii. (1878), 123. A curiously coxcombical lisp.
1861. T. A. Trollope, La Beata, I. iv. 76. The tirade … was only one part coxcombical to three parts satirical.
Hence Coxcombicality, coxcombical quality or act. Coxcombically adv., in a coxcombical manner, like a coxcomb.
1766. Wesley, Wks. (1872), XII. 308. Cure him of his coxcomicality, and he may do good.
1834. H. C. Robinson, Diary, III. 53. The learned Professor’s affected disregard of German literature is not the least of his coxcombicalities.
a. 1763. Byrom, Remarks, Misc. Poems 1773, II. 213 (R.).
| But this coxcombically mingling | |
| Of Rhimes, unrhiming, interjingling, | |
| For Numbers genuinely British, | |
| Is quite too finical, and skittish. |
1835. Blackw. Mag., XXXVII. 434. Your creatures who prate coxcombically of belonging to the juste milieu.
