peacockishadj.
/ˈpiːkɒkɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈpiˌkɑkɪʃ/ Like or characteristic of a peacock; ostentatious, vain.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > [adjective]
rankOE
peacockly?a1425
ruffling1531
garish1545
peacockish1551
peacock-like1576
ostentatious1590
fastuous?1591
flaring1593
flantitanting1596
ostentive1599
ostentative1601
showful1607
flourishable1614
flourishing1616
flaunting1624
ostentous1624
ostentatory1638
swasha1640
fanfaron1670
paradeful1748
ostensible1782
epideictic1790
fandangous1797
flashy1801
affiché1818
show-off1818
splashing1820
flaunty1825
splash-and-dash1830
pretentious1832
flash1836
splashy1836
pretenceful1841
swanky1842
peacocky1844
fantysheeny1847
splurgy1852
cheesy1858
pretensivea1868
duchessy1870
swagger1879
lavish1882
splurging1884
show-offy1890
razzmatazz1900
show-offish1903
whoop-de-do1904
Ritz1908
split-arse1917
swanking1918
ritzy1919
fantoosh1920
knock-me-down1922
showboating1936
showboat1939
hellzapoppin'1945
zazzy1961
glitzy1966
sploshy1966
zhuzhy1968
noncy1989
bling1999
1551 J. Bale Actes Eng. Votaryes: 2nd Pt. f. liiij The kynge not beynge so Pecockysh as he iudged hym, dyscretely and wysely deferred the tyme.
1864 Spectator 27 Feb. 240 An ardent, almost peacockish vanity.
1886 J. M. L. Curry Let. 28 Dec. in E. A. Alderman & A. C. Gordon J. L. M. Curry (1911) xvi. 301 Canovas, speaking of Castelar's well-known and inoffensive vanity, and peacockish display, said of him, that he never saw a marriage without wishing to be the bride, nor a funeral without wishing to be the corpse.
1948 L. Haberly Pursuit of Horizon xvii. 150 The ladies laughingly accused him of being vain, and asked him how he made himself so truly peacockish.
1989 A. Walker Temple of my Familiar iii. 210 Once..I saw her..going by in a carriage with her dress all peacockish greens and blacks and purples and blues.
2001 Premiere Sept. 91/2 A spoiled rich girl vanishes..and is searched for by her earthier girlfriend..and peacockish lover.
Derivatives
ˈpeacockishly adv. rare
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > [adverb]
boggishlya1375
with great renowna1400
jettingly1440
flourishingly?1545
rufflingly1575
flaunt-a-flaunt1576
peacock-like1576
peacockwise1577
peacockly1580
aflaunt1584
vauntingly1593
wealth boastingly1593
prankingly1610
fastuously1654
ostentativelya1658
ostentously1665
ostentatiously1671
showily1755
violently1771
paradingly1792
peacockically1834
peacockishly1834
pretentiously1848
ostensibly1855
slangily1858
peacocky1860
splurgily1887
swankily1924
glitzily1982
1834 R. Southey Doctor I. 38 This is to write..pavonesquement,..in English peacockically or peacockishly, whichever the reader may like best.
ˈpeacockishness n. rare
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > [noun]
boast1297
strut1303
bombancec1325
bobantc1330
bobancec1380
ambitionc1384
oliprancec1390
pretence?a1439
ostentationa1475
pransawtea1500
bravity1546
finesse1549
bravery1573
overlashing1579
brave1596
peacockry1596
garishness1598
maggot ostentation1598
ostent1609
flaunta1625
spectability1637
vantation1637
fastuousness1649
fastuosity1656
finery1656
parade1656
phantastry1656
ostentatiousness1658
éclat1704
pretension1706
braw1724
swell1724
showiness1730
ostensibility1775
fanfaronade1784
display1816
showing off1822
glimmer1827
tigerism1836
peacockery1844
show-off1846
flare1847
peacockism1854
swank1854
tigerishness1869
flashness1888
flamboyance1891
peacockishness1892
flamboyancy1896
swankiness1920
plushness1949
glitziness1982
fantasia-
fantastication-
1892 W. W. Peyton Mem. Jesus xiii. 360 An ostentatious variation,..a peacockishness of modern philosophy.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1551