COXCOMB

coxcomb. Coxcomb, n. a cock's topping or caruncle, a sop

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Cox″comb′ (k?ks″k?m′), n. [[A corrupted spelling of cock's comb.]] 1. 1. (a) A strip of red cloth notched like the comb of a cock, which licensed jesters formerly wore in their caps. (b) The cap itself.
2. 2. The top of the head, or the head itself.
We will belabor you a little better, And beat a little more care into your coxcombs. Beau & Fl. 3. 3. A vain, showy fellow; a conceited, silly man, fond of display; a superficial pretender to knowledge or accomplishments; a fop.
Fond to be seen, she kept a bevy Of powdered coxcombs at her levee. Goldsmith. Some are bewildered in the maze of schools, And some made coxcombs, nature meant but fools. Pope. 4. 4. (Bot.) A name given to several plants of different genera, but particularly to Celosia cristata, or garden cockscomb. Same as Cockscomb.