† coxcomblyadj.
Obsolete.
Having or showing the traits or qualities of a coxcomb; (originally) foolish (cf. coxcomb n. 4a); (later) vain, pretentiously affected, foppish.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > fashionableness > [adjective] > dandyish
quaintc1330
skipjack1598
satin1603
coxcombly1610
prigginga1627
coxcombical1649
skipjackly1674
jessamy1696
beauish1699
foppish1699
priggish1701
Jemmy Jessamine1786
macaronian1792
buckish1806
dandy1813
dandified1826
dandyish1826
Brummellian1829
dandyic1832
dandiacal1834
squirtish1843
macaronyish1858
fine-gentlemanish1865
foppy1878
dude1879
dudish1883
fancy1891
the mind > emotion > pride > self-esteem > vanity > [adjective]
self-liking1580
self-loved1590
self-admiring1592
self-loving1593
self-liked1599
glass-gazing1608
coxcombly1610
self-admired1621
coxcombical1649
self-idolizing1649
vain1692
flashy1693
vaunty1724
coxcombic1730
self-idolized1766
narcissine1805
foofaraw1848
vanitous1900
narcissistic1915
narcistic1918
dicty1920
narcissist1934
1610 E. Gardiner Triall of Tabacco f. 18 The cockscombly Morouians.
1619 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Maides Trag. i. sig. B3v My lookes terrifie them, you coxcomely asse.
1663 S. Pepys Diary 8 Mar. (1971) IV. 69 The fellow would not be known; which my Lord imputed to his coxcombly humour.
1794 R. Cumberland Box-lobby Challenge i. i. 7 From what conceited, canting, coxcombly, drab-compos'd novel have you filch'd that silly phrase?
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth iv, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 142 Go—and may I never see thy coxcombly face again.
1905 H. C. Bailey Beaujeu xvii. 130 At present 'tis a coxcombly boy.
Derivatives
coxcombliness n. rare
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > fashionableness > [noun] > dandy > characteristic behaviour of
fop-road1677
coxcombry1745
coxcombliness1765
coxcombery1774
coxcombality1785
the mind > emotion > pride > self-esteem > vanity > [noun]
idleshipa1250
vanitya1340
self-love1539
self-liking1549
conceit1563
vainness1567
self-pridea1586
self-delight1591
self-admiration1609
self-respect1609
self-lovingnessa1628
self-idolatry1643
self-idolizing1643
selfism1731
coxcombry1745
coxcombliness1765
coxcombicality1766
coxcombery1774
narcissism1822
narcism1938
1765 J. Hoadly Let. 23 May in D. Garrick Private Corr. (1831) I. 185 I thought that Dodd was deficient even in coxcombliness in the part of Lord George Brilliant.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adj.1610