Word of the Day

: November 28, 2011

coquetry

noun KOH-kuh-tree

What It Means

: a flirtatious act or attitude

coquetry in Context

In a not-so-subtle act of coquetry, Nancy smiled flirtatiously and winked at Scott as she walked past him.

“Her Act III solo with a fan became an expression not of conventional coquetry but of impish joy in the moment." -- From a review of the American Ballet Theater in The New York Times, May 25, 2011

Did You Know?

The rooster's cocky attitude has given him a reputation for arrogance and promiscuity. It has also given English several terms for people whose behavior is reminiscent of that strutting barnyard fowl. The noun "coquet" comes from French, where it is a diminutive of "coq," the French word for rooster. Originally, in the 1600s, English speakers used "coquet" to describe men who indulged in trifling flirtations. Today "coquet" can refer to male or female flirts (though "coquette," the French feminine form, is more commonly used for flirtatious women), and "coquetry" can refer to flirtation by men or women.