cocktail
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cocktail
- /ˈkɒk.teɪl/ UK
- /ˈkɑk.teɪl/ US
- /ˈkɔk.tæɪl/ Australia
Where it comes from
Early 17th century, from cock (“male bird”) + tail, in the sense “(a horse with its) tail standing up, like a cock’s”. The origin of the extension to “an alcoholic mixed drink” is unknown. One theory is that it refers to a stimulant (gingering), hence a stimulating drink; compare pick-me-up. Another attested use is for non-thoroughbred racehorses: these were considered "cock-tailed" due to their docked tails. This may have led to the term "cocktail" (sense 1) being used for an adulterated spirit.
noun cocktails · ckt
-
A mixed alcoholic beverage.
They visited a bar noted for its wide range of cocktails.
Similar: mixed drink
-
A mixture of other substances or things.
Scientists found a cocktail of pollutants in the river downstream from the chemical factory.
Similar: bouillabaisse, bric-a-brac, catch-all, clamjamfrey, cocktail, rummage, salad, anthology, gallery, gatherum, congeries, crazyquilt
- A horse, not of pure breed, but having only one eighth or one sixteenth impure blood in its veins. A “cock-tail” is a horse not purely bred, but with only one-eighth or one-sixteenth impure blood in his veins
-
A mean, half-hearted fellow.
It was in the second affair that poor little Barney showed he was a cocktail.
Similar: coward
- A species of rove beetle, so called from its habit of elevating the tail.
adjective more cocktail · most cocktail
- Ostentatiously lacking in manners. It looks very cocktail to be seen riding through the streets of London in a scarlet coat ;
verb cocktails · cocktailing · cocktailed
- To adulterate (fuel, etc.) by mixing in other substances.
- To treat (a person) to cocktails. He dined and cocktailed her at the most exclusive bars and restaurants.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: appetizer, drink, glass, shrimp, bug, starter, shake, mix, mixture, mixing, blend, blending, merge, combination, reception, party
Translations
Every language
noun alcoholic beverage
| Español | cocktail |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | カクテル kakuteru |
| 中文 | 雞尾酒 /鸡尾酒 jīwěijiǔ, 調酒 /调酒 tiáojiǔ |
| हिन्दी | कॉकटेल kŏkṭel |
| Português | coquetel |
| Français | cocktail |
| Deutsch | Cocktail |
| Italiano | cocktail, polibibita, coccotello |
| Ελληνικά | κοκτέιλ koktéil |
| Română | cocteil, cocktail |
| Русский | кокте́йль koktɛ́jlʹ, кокте́ль koktɛ́lʹ |
| Tiếng Việt | cốc-tai |
| العربية | كُوكْتَيْل kuktayl, كُوكْتِيل kokteyl |
| עברית | קוֹקְטֵיל \ קוקטייל koktéyl |
Talk about this word "cocktail." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/cocktail. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. cocktail. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/cocktail "cocktail." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/cocktail.Cite this
@misc{cocktail_2026,
title = {cocktail},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/cocktail},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
