cockscomb

[ koks-kohm ]
See synonyms for cockscomb on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the comb or caruncle of a cock.

  2. the cap, resembling a cockscomb, formerly worn by professional fools.

  1. a garden plant, Celosia cristata, of the amaranth family, with flowers, commonly crimson or purple, in a broad spike somewhat resembling the comb of a cock.

  2. any of several other species of the genus Celosia.

  3. an elongate prickleback, Anoplarchus purpurescens, living among submerged rocks along the Pacific coast of North America.

  4. a gaslight burner having four or more jets.

Origin of cockscomb

1
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at cock1, 's1, comb

Words Nearby cockscomb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use cockscomb in a sentence

  • Celosia cristata is the well known cockscomb, having combs or heads of scarlet, crimson, rose and yellow.

  • Getting tired, I took out my sketch-book and drew Lubuga, the pet, which amused the king immensely as he recognised her cockscomb.

  • His hair was cut short, with the exception of a ridge on the top which ran stem to stern, like a cockscomb.

    Great African Travellers | W.H.G. Kingston
  • If an unmodified Celosia could be got, it would be well to test with the modified cockscomb.

  • The wild cockscomb (Amaranthus Cruentus) also furnished a portion of their supply.

    The Cliff Climbers | Captain Mayne Reid

British Dictionary definitions for cockscomb

cockscomb

coxcomb

/ (ˈkɒksˌkəʊm) /


noun
  1. the comb of a domestic cock

  2. an amaranthaceous garden or pot plant, Celosia cristata, with yellow, crimson, or purple feathery plumelike flowers in a broad spike resembling the comb of a cock

  1. any similar species of Celosia

  2. informal a conceited dandy

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012