cocotte

¹

[ koh-kot, kuh-; French kaw-kawt ]

noun

, plural co·cottes [koh-, kots, kaw-, kawt].

1. a high-class female prostitute in the second half of the 19th century and the very early 20th century; demimondaine.

cocotte

²

[ koh-kot, kuh-; French kaw-kawt ]

noun

, plural co·cottes [koh-, kots, kaw-, kawt].

1. a round or oval casserole, usually of earthenware or fireproof porcelain, used especially for cooking an individual portion of meat, fowl, or game.

cocotte

/ kəʊˈkɒt; kə-; kɔkɔt /

noun

1. a small fireproof dish in which individual portions of food are cooked and served
2. a prostitute or promiscuous woman

Word History and Origins

Origin of cocotte¹

First recorded in 1865–70; from French: originally a child's word for a hen, equivalent to coq cock ¹ + -otte feminine suffix

Origin of cocotte²

1865–70; < French: small cast-iron pot for stewing meat; alteration, by suffix substitution, of Middle French cocasse, coquasse applied to various receptacles, obscurely akin to coquemar kettle, by uncertain mediation < Medieval Greek koukoumárion (or its presumed VL source), ultimately derivative of Latin cucuma kettle

Word History and Origins

Origin of cocotte¹

C19: from French, from nursery word for a hen, feminine of coq cock ¹

Example Sentences

I took a screenshot of the cocottes and uploaded it to the site.

From New York Times

We found that meaty swordfish steaks were particularly well suited to cooking en cocotte.

From Washington Times

Before using those skills to create the fashion empire known simply as “Chanel,” she performed as a singer in clubs where she acquired the nickname “Coco” — short for “cocotte” or “kept woman.”

From Washington Post

All you need to capture it is a heavy pot with a heavy lid, like a Dutch oven or a cocotte.

From New York Times

One morning, Adler had been struggling to get Dutch baby pancakes and eggs en cocotte in and out of a very hot oven.

From Washington Post