cocktail
nounadjectiveverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈkɒk.teɪl//
- United States//ˈkɑk.teɪl//
- Australia//ˈkɔk.tæɪl//
A mixed alcoholic beverage.
noun
- 1
A mixed alcoholic beverage.
They visited a bar noted for its wide range of cocktails.
[...] a certain candidate has placed in his account of Loss and Gain, the following items:-- LOSS [...] 411 glasses bitters[,] 25 do. cock-tail
Cock tail, then, is a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters — it is vulgarly called bittered sling, and is supposed to be an excellent electioneering potion, inasmuch as it renders the heart stout and bold, at the same time that it fuddles the head.
Deane opened the fray by declaring, à propos of dinners, that the only proper way to create a cocktail of the genus Martini was to add a half-spoonful of sherry after the other ingredients had been satisfactorily mixed, if at all.
- 2
figurativeA mixture of other substances or things.
Scientists found a cocktail of pollutants in the river downstream from the chemical factory.
a cocktail of illegal drugs
Motor vehicles, for example, emit a cocktail of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, particulates, heavy metals and (for diesel) sulphur dioxide.
Terry Gourvish, the lead author if the authorised commercial history of BR, described the new BTC structure thus: "The conclusion must be that the combination of a few undynamic railwaymen, underpaid full-timers (Commission and General Staff) and poorly-paid part-time businessmen was not a very potent managerial cocktail."
- 3
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
- 4
datedA mean, half-hearted fellow.
It was in the second affair that poor little Barney showed he was a cocktail.
- 5
A species of rove beetle, so called from its habit of elevating the tail.
Etymology
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.
adjective
- 1
obsoleteOstentatiously lacking in manners.
It looks very cocktail to be seen riding through the streets of London in a scarlet coat ;
The Prince had nothing particular about him but a monstrous smart whip with a gold stag for a handle, which was pronounced a very cocktail looking instrument by the Leicestershire farmers, with whom His Serene Highness is no favorite
She always goes about with a brace of loaded revolvers in her belt!! Very cocktail and no occasion for it
Nothing looks so cocktail and muffish on a coach as to see a man learning to catch his whip, and after many futile efforts taking it upside down for this purpose, and twisting the thong round and round with the point downwards, as if he was stirring porridge for a pack of hounds.
verb
- 1
To adulterate (fuel, etc.) by mixing in other substances.
- 2
To treat (a person) to cocktails.
He dined and cocktailed her at the most exclusive bars and restaurants.
Forms
- plural
- cocktails
- comparative
- more cocktail
- superlative
- most cocktail
- past tense
- cocktailed
- past participle
- cocktailed
- present participle
- cocktailing
- third person singular
- cocktails
cocktail · A mixed alcoholic beverage.
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