▪ I. coquet, a. and n.1
(kəʊˈkɛt)
[a. F. coquet, orig. n., dim. of coq cock, in reference to the strutting gait and amorous characteristics of the cock; hence ‘a beau’, and in the fem. coquette ‘a belle’; also as adj. ‘forward, wanton, gallant’: cf. cock v.1, also cockish, cocky a., and cocket a., which is prob. the same word in an earlier stage of meaning. In later use, the adjective in English became inseparably blended with the attributive use of the n., to which also it became entirely assimilated in sense. The n. was, as in Fr., formerly used of both sexes, and in both spelt coquet; but in the 18th c. the fem. became coquette after Fr., and the masculine became obsolete.]
A. adj. [
† 1. = cocky: see cocket a. Obs.]
† 2. Amorously forward or familiar. Obs.
| 1708 Brit. Apollo I. No. 2 11/2 A gentleman, a Friend of her's, is always very Coquet to her in his drink, and never so at other times: because folly is the effect of drunkenness. 1711 Wentworth Papers (1882) 214 Her Grace of Shrewsbery is now very coquet with Lord Ashburnham. |
3. a. Having or showing the disposition of a coquette; coquettish; said of persons of their actions.
| 1697 Vanbrugh Relapse ii. i, A lady may (with the Expence of a few Coquet Glances) lead twenty fools about in a string for two or three years together. 1702 Eng. Theophrast. 274 The greatest miracle love can work is to cure a coquet humour. 1769 F. Brooke Hist. E. Montague (1784) I. iv. 23 They [Canadian ladies] are gay, coquet, and sprightly; more gallant than sensible. 1861 W. H. Russell in Times 10 July, Some women dressed as ‘vivandières’, minus the coquet air and the trousers and boots of those ladies. 1869 F. B. Palliser Lace xxv. 299 More coquet than a woman. |
b. transf. of things.
| 1762–71 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) IV. 286 On the piers of a garden-gate not far from Paris I observed two very coquet sphinxes. 1867 J. Macgregor Voy. Alone (1868) 129 Steamers of all shapes..with flags often exceedingly coquet. |
B. n.
1. A man who from vanity or selfish motives aims at making himself generally attractive to the other sex; a male flirt; a ‘lady-killer’. Cf. coquette 1 c.
| 1693 Humours & Conv. of Town 105 The perpetual Chat of the Noisy Coquets. 1696 Phillips, Coquet, an Amorous Courtier, one that makes it his business to cause himself to be belov'd, and gain the love of Women. 1728 Gay Begg. Op. iii. Wks. (1772) 123 The coquets of both sexes are self-lovers, and that is a love no other what ever can dispossess. 1732 Mrs. Delany Autobiog. & Corr. (1861) I. 362 My brother is playing the coquet among the belles on Tunbridge walks. 1819 J. Constable Let. 2 Nov. (1962) 189 While I am writing all this I am playing the Coquet as I mean to add a post script to this note... P.S. I was last night..elected an Associate of the Royal Academy. 1892 G. B. Shaw Let. 21 Apr. (1965) 338 People imagine that Lövborg..really means to kill himself, instead of merely gratifying his propensity, as a male coquet, for making scenes. 1894 R. Sullivan Woman 15 But are not men flirts also?.. Are not men coquets? |
2. The common earlier form of coquette, q.v.
▪ II. † coquet, n.2 Obs. rare.
[f. coquet v.]
An act or ‘piece’ of coquetry.
| 1719 D'Urfey Pills (1872) V. 188 When Men whine too much in wooing, Women with like Coquets use them. |
▪ III. coquet
var. of cocket n.1
▪ IV. coquet, coquette, v.
(kəʊˈkɛt)
[a. F. coquete-r (il coquette), f. coquet; see coquet a. and n.1 The dictionaries have the present tense as coquet, which seems to be the spelling of all the earlier quots.; but some modern writers spell it coquette, like the n.]
1. intr. ‘To act the lover’ (J.); to practise coquetry, to flirt with. (Formerly used of both sexes, now only of a woman.) † to coquet it: to play the coquette.
| 1701 Farquhar Sir H. Wildair iii. i, See how they cocquet it! Oh! there's a look! there's a simper! there's a squeeze for you! 1713 Swift Cadenus & V., Phillis..I saw coquetting..with that odious knight. 1742 Fielding J. Andrews iv. ix, He then..turned about to coquet it with Fanny. 1792 M. Wollstonecraft Rights Wom. v. 180 At the age of ten or eleven..girls began to coquet. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) xviii. viii. 148 Another courtly Charmer, hypocritically modest, coquettes under the tatters of a Gipsy. 1881 Besant & Rice Chapl. Fleet II. 167, I could not coquet with other men. |
| fig. 1839 Longfellow Hyperion i. vi, How the wanton, treacherous air coquets with the old greybeard trees. 1859 Kingsley Misc. (1860) II. 254 Those fantastic clouds which are coquetting with your thrones. |
† 2. trans. ‘To treat with an appearance of amorous tenderness’ (J.); to flirt with. Obs.
| 1725 Swift Let. 26 Nov., You coquetting a maid of honour. 1729 ― Grand Question Debated 167 He caught me one morning coquetting his wife. 1773 Goldsm. Stoops to Conq. ii. Wks. (Globe) 656/2 Stage-direction, She follows, coquetting him to the back scene. ― Epil. Wks. 1806 II. 445 Talks loud, coquets the guests, and scolds the waiters. |
3. intr. (transf.) To dally, trifle, or toy with (a matter or proposal).
| 1780 F. Burney Diary June, Miss W ― begged her to sing us a French song. She coquetted, but Mrs. Riggs..insisted upon her obedience. 1796 Ld. Fitzwilliam in Burke's Corr. (1844) IV. 357 He made war to gain a duke, and he coquetted with peace to retain a county member. 1814 Sir R. Wilson Diary II. 299 We have lost precious time in coquetting about his recognition, if we are to acknowledge him king at the last. 1834 Medwin Angler in Wales II. 155, I was at last coquetted with to retire from the service. 1878 Lecky Eng. 18th C. II. ix, Lady Townshend for a time coquetted with Methodism as with Popery. |
4. To play with (a horse), by pretending to let him have his way.
| 1863 Thornbury True as Steel I. 150 Robert..maintaining a perfect seat, coquetted with his fiery chesnut horse, to the delight of the multitude. |
Hence coˈquetting vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1719 D'Urfey Pills II. 241 Pox on Town Cheatings, Jilts and Coquettings. 1795 Burke Th. Scarcity Wks. VII. 396 To take advantage of the fortunate fugitive moment in this coquetting climate of ours. 1861 T. A. Trollope La Beata II. xiv. 110 There was a long coquetting consultation about how it should be worn. 1891 R. Zimmermann in Athenæum 4 July 20/3 An exclusive section of society, enfeebled by refined sensuality and absurd coquetting with culture. |