cockishadj.
/ˈkɒkɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈkɑkɪʃ/ 1. Given to or characterized by arrogance, boastfulness, defiance, or presumptuousness; self-assertive or self-important; swaggering, strutting. Cf. cocky adj. 2, cocksure adj. 4.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > self-assertiveness > [adjective]
crousea1400
crank1499
cockish1551
forward1561
forthyc1565
forthputting?1577
perching1579
perk1579
perking?1584
officious1596
pratchant1596
putting-forth1621
obtrusive1652
petulcous1661
pushing1682
coxy1728
cocky1768
bumptious1801
furthy1808
upsetting1817
perky1820
self-asserting1821
protrusive1841
self-assertive1849
aggressive1855
self-assertory1867
perkisha1870
pushful1871
pushy1874
forritsome1894
chesty1900
1551 J. Bale Actes Eng. Votaryes: 2nd Pt. f. lv Bryngyng with hym the metropolycall mantell of Anselme, to augment hys cockysh autoryte.
1601 R. Parsons Briefe Apologie Catholike Eccl. Hierarchie xi. f. 176v What cockish scholer can not deuise one & fortie reasons against his Superiors commandement when he listeth not to obay?
1734 Oxf. Act 66 They're mighty uppish o' late, since their Parade to Westminster—main Cockish, since they got a Minority.
1868 W. Russell Leaves from Jrnl. of Custom-house Officer iv. 65 He that has always been so cockish, and full of his d—d sneers at his one-eyed, obliging customers, as the confounded scamp calls us.
1964 P. Anderson Trader to Stars 134 I think sometimes God likes a little practical joke on us poor mortals, when we get too cockish.
2007 University Wire (Nexis) 25 Apr. Strutting around with a cockish I-will-beat-you-because-I'm-Bobby-Flay attitude.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > lasciviousness or lust > [adjective] > lecherous
lecherous1303
lickerous1377
cocky1549
cockish?1555
lickering1578
codding1594
salt1598
lickerish1599
rewish1617
tentiginous1631
liquorsome1656
salacious1661
lechering1693
horny1889
horn-mad1893
tomcat1899
whorehopping1954
?1555 Image of Idlenesse xiv. sig. Cvi Gellyes, or other confections that were good to make her cockyshe hote or apt to receaue what he mente towardes her.
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Galluta, a cockish wanton.
1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue (at cited word) A cockish wench, a forward coming girl.
1846 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words I Cockish, wanton. North.
3. Of, relating to, characteristic of, or reminiscent of a cockerel or rooster. Now somewhat rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > hen or cock > [adjective] > of or relating to or like a cock
cockish1577
cock-a-doodle-dooing1599
gallinaceous1879
henny1929
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iv. f. 158 [Hens] free from spurres: for such as weare those Cockish weapons, are not good for broode.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iv. f. 161 Such [Hens] as after the Cockishe maner eyther crowe, or treade.
1881 J. Ruskin Let. in Cape Q. Rev. 1 Oct. 191 Try and draw..cocks, hens, all manner of poultry,—dogs, cats..always trying to get the life of the beast and its real nature; its doggish or cockish expression.
1895 H. Compton Free Lance in Far Land vii. 94 Fossit filled his mug, and tossed off its contents with a cockish jerk of his head.
2014 J. G. Donlon Bayou Country Bloodsport vi. 100 Even without the obvious male metaphor, the language landscape is freely strewn with cockish notes.
4. slang. Characteristic of or like a cock (cock n.1 11); obnoxious, provocative, or otherwise annoying or contemptible. Cf. dickish adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupidity, dullness of intellect > [adjective]
sloweOE
stuntc960
dullOE
hardOE
stuntlyc1000
sotc1050
dillc1175
dulta1225
simplea1325
heavy1340
astonedc1374
sheepishc1380
dull-witteda1387
lourd1390
steerishc1411
ass-likea1425
brainless?a1439
deafc1440
sluggishc1450
short-witted1477
obtuse1509
peakish1519
wearish1519
deaf, or dumb as a beetle1520
doileda1522
gross1526
headlessa1530
stulty1532
ass-headed1533
pot-headed1533
stupid?1541
sheep's head1542
doltish1543
dumpish1545
assish1548
blockish1548
slow-witted1548
blockheaded1549
surd1551
dull-headed1552
hammer-headed1552
skit-brained?1553
buzzardly1561
witless1562
log-headeda1566
assy1566
sottish1566
dastardly1567
stupidious1567
beetle-headed1570
calvish1570
bluntish1578
cod's-headed1578
grout-headed1578
bedaft1579
dull-pated1580
blate1581
buzzard-like1581
long-eared1582
dullard1583
woodena1586
duncical1588
leaden-headed1589
buzzard1592
dorbellical1592
dunstical1592
heavy-headeda1593
shallow-brained1592
blunt-witted1594
mossy1597
Bœotian1598
clay-brained1598
fat1598
fat-witted1598
knotty-pated1598
stupidous1598
wit-lost1599
barren1600
duncifiedc1600
lourdish1600
stockish1600
thick1600
booby1603
leaden-pated1603
partless1603
thin-headed1603
leaden-skulledc1604
blockhead1606
frost-brained1606
ram-headed1608
beef-witted1609
insulse1609
leaden-spirited1609
asininec1610
clumse1611
blockheadly1612
wattle-headed1613
flata1616
logger-headeda1616
puppy-headeda1616
shallow-patedc1616
thick-brained1619
half-headed1621
buzzard-blinda1625
beef-brained1628
toom-headed1629
thick-witted1634
woollen-witted1635
squirrel-headed1637
clod-pated1639
lean-souled1639
muddy-headed1642
leaden-witteda1645
as sad as any mallet1645
under-headed1646
fat-headed1647
half-witted1647
insipid1651
insulsate1652
soft-headed1653
thick-skulleda1657
muddish1658
non-intelligent1659
whey-brained1660
sap-headed1665
timber-headed1666
leather-headeda1668
out of (one's) tree1669
boobily1673
thoughtless1673
lourdly1674
logger1675
unintelligenta1676
Bœotic1678
chicken-brained1678
under-witted1683
loggerhead1684
dunderheaded1692
unintelligible1694
buffle-headed1697
crassicc1700
numbskulled1707
crassous1708
doddy-polled1708
haggis-headed1715
niddy-noddy1722
muzzy1723
pudding-headed1726
sumphish1728
pitcher-souleda1739
duncey1743
hebete1743
chuckheaded1756
dumb1756
duncely1757
imbecile1766
mutton-headed1768
chuckle-headed1770
jobbernowl1770
dowfarta1774
boobyish1778
wittol1780
staumrel1787
opaquec1789
stoopid1791
mud-headed1793
borné1795
muzzy-headed1798
nog-headed1800
thick-headed1801
gypit1804
duncish1805
lightweight1809
numbskull1814
tup-headed1816
chuckle-pate1820
unintellectuala1821
dense1822
ninnyish1822
dunch1825
fozy1825
potato-headed1826
beef-headed1828
donkeyish1831
blockheadish1833
pinheaded1837
squirrel-minded1837
pumpkin-headed1838
tomfoolish1838
dundering1840
chicken-headed1842
like a bump on a log1842
ninny-minded1849
numbheadeda1852
nincompoopish1852
suet-brained1852
dolly1853
mullet-headed1853
sodden1853
fiddle-headed1854
numb1854
bovine1855
logy1859
crass1861
unsmart1861
off his chump1864
wooden-headed1865
stupe1866
lean-minded1867
duffing1869
cretinous1871
doddering1871
thick-head1873
doddling1874
stupido1879
boneheaded1883
woolly-headed1883
leaden-natured1889
suet-headed1890
sam-sodden1891
dopey1896
turnip-headed1898
bonehead1903
wool-witted1905
peanut-headed1906
peanut-brained1907
dilly1909
torpid-minded1909
retardate1912
nitwitted1917
meat-headed1918
mug1922
cloth-headed1925
loopy1925
nitwit1928
lame-brained1929
dead from the neck up1930
simpy1932
nail-headed1936
square-headed1936
dingbats1937
pinhead1939
dim-witted1940
pea-brained1942
clueless1943
lobotomized1943
retarded1949
pointy-headed1950
clottish1952
like a stunned mullet1953
silly (or crazy) as a two-bob watch1954
out to lunch1955
pin-brained1958
dozy1959
eejity1964
out of one's tiny mind1965
doofus1967
twitty1967
twittish1969
twatty1975
twattish1976
blur1977
dof1979
goofus1981
dickheaded1991
dickish1991
numpty1992
cockish1996
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > condition of being held in contempt > [adjective] > contemptible
unworthc893
unwrastc893
littleOE
narrow-hearteda1200
wretcha1200
unworthya1240
wretchedc1250
un-i-wrastc1275
bad1276
lechera1300
feeblea1325
despisablea1340
villain1340
contemptiblec1384
lousyc1386
caitiff1393
brothelyc1400
roinousa1425
poor1425
sevenpennyc1475
nasty1477
peakish1519
filthy1533
despectuous1541
beggary1542
scald1542
shitten?1545
disdainfula1547
contemptuous1549
despicable1553
skit-brained?1553
contemniblea1555
vile1560
sluttish1561
queer1567
scornful1570
scallardc1575
tinkerly?1576
worthless1576
beggarly?1577
paltry1578
halfpenny1579
dog bolt1580
pitiful1582
sneaking1582
triobolar1585
wormisha1586
baddy1586
dudgeon1592
measled1596
packstaff1598
roguey1598
roguish1601
contemptful1608
grovelling1608
lightly1608
disdainable1611
purulent1611
snotty-nose1622
vilipendious1630
cittern-headed1638
wormy1640
pissabed1643
triobolary1644
disparageable1648
blue-bellied1652
unestimable1656
scullion1658
piteous1667
dirty1670
shabbed1674
shabby1679
snotty1681
snotty-nosed1682
mucky1683
bollocky1694
scoundrel1700
scaldeda1704
sneaking1703
ficulnean1716
unsolid1731
pitiable1753
scrubby1754
inimitable1798
scrubbish1798
worm-likea1807
small1824
lowlife1827
ketty1828
skunkish1831
yellow-bellied1833
scaly1843
cockroachya1845
wutless1853
nigger1859
trashy1862
low-down1872
cruddy1877
shitty1879
tinhorn1886
blithering1889
motherfucking1890
snidey1890
pilgarlicky1894
shitass1895
shoddy1918
yah boo1921
bitching1929
shit-faced1932
turdish1936
fricking1937
jerk-off1937
chickenshit1940
sheg-up1941
snot-nosed1941
jerky1944
mother-loving1948
scroungy1948
fecking1952
pissant1952
shit-kicking1953
shit-eating1956
bumboclaat1957
rassclaat1957
shit-headed1959
farkakte1960
shithouse1966
daggy1967
dipshit1968
scuzzy1969
bloodclaat1971
bitch ass1972
wanky1972
streelish1974
twatty1975
twattish1976
dweeby1988
douchey1991
wank1991
cockish1996
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of annoyance or vexation > [adjective] > annoying or vexatious
angeeOE
swinkfuleOE
plightlyOE
teenfulOE
contrariousc1320
drefa1325
troublinga1325
despitousa1340
thornya1340
discomfortablec1350
troublablec1374
noyousa1382
noyfulc1384
diseasy1387
angrya1393
painful1395
hackinga1400
annoying?c1400
annoyousc1400
cumbrousc1400
teenc1400
annoyfulc1405
sputousc1420
diseasefula1425
molest?a1425
noying?a1425
noisomea1450
grievingc1450
tedious?1454
troublous1463
noisantc1475
displeasant1481
strouble1488
nuisant1494
noyanta1500
irksome1513
sturting1513
molestious1524
vexatious1534
cumbersome1535
uncommodious1541
spiteful1548
vexing?1548
incommodious1551
molestous1555
diseasing1558
grating1563
pestilent1565
sturtsome1570
molestuousa1572
troublesome1573
murrain1575
discommodable1579
galling1583
spiny1586
unsupportable1586
troubleful1588
plaguey1594
distressingc1595
molestful1596
molesting1598
vexful1598
fretful1603
briery1604
bemadding1608
mortifying1611
tiry1611
distressfula1616
irking1629
angersome1649
disobliging1652
discomforting1654
incomfortable1655
incommode1672
ruffling1680
unconvenient1683
pestifying1716
trying1718
offending1726
bothering1765
pesky1775
weary1785
sturty1788
unaccommodating1790
tiresome1798
werriting1808
bothersome1817
plaguesome1828
pestilential1833
fretsome1834
languorous1834
pesty1834
pestersome1843
nettlesome1845
miserable1850
niggling1854
distempering1855
be-maddeninga1861
nattery1873
nagging1883
pestiferous1890
trouble-giving1893
maddening1896
molestive1905
nuisancy1906
balls-aching?1912
nuisance1922
nattering1949
noodgy1969
dickheaded1991
dickish1991
cockish1996
1996 M. Valentin Carper's Field iii. 34 ‘You know, you should really look where you're goin' more often,’ Eddie said with a cockish giggle.
2013 B. Pitcher in P. Bennett & J. McDougall Barthes' Mythologies Today xii. 62 Cockish behaviour provides a way of refusing to act responsibly or account for one's actions or opinions, despite the widespread recognition that they are wrong.
2016 @DineHard 3 Nov. in twitter.com (O.E.D. Archive) Looks at new restaurant concept. Looks at cockish people involved. Shrugs.
Derivatives
ˈcockishly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > self-assertiveness > [adverb]
crousea1525
forwardly1552
cockishly1570
officiously1598
cockingly?1734
protrusively1833
perkingly1841
self-assertingly1841
perkily1843
bumptiously1844
cockily1855
chestily1908
with (an) attitude1975
1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. 688/1 You..whiche take vpon you so cockyshly (rather then wisely) to bee a controller & maister moderatour of other mens matters.
1617 R. Carpenter Three Profitable Serm. i. 58 The word of God is to be deliuered as the word, not cockishly, corruptedly, or vnfruitfully, but grauely, modestly, piously, profitably.
1884 R. Richards Our Voy. xxiv. 338 ‘And you mean to say that is how you would stow a cask of wine?’ ‘I do,’ I cockishly replied.
1954 Teachers Jrnl. (Long Beach, Calif.) Spring 23/1 Cynthia, the duck,..scuttled anxiously into the grass. Cautiously, she slowed her pace and perked her head cockishly.
2016 M. J. Pamfiloff Tailored for Trouble 72 ‘Well, that wasn't very nice,’ he said cockishly and grinned.
ˈcockishness n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > self-esteem > conceit > [noun]
opinionc1425
wind1484
vokea1508
conceit1567
self-weening1570
cockishness1573
weening1575
self-conceit1576
self-opinion1593
conceitedness1595
self-conceitednessa1602
self-opinionatedness1668
self-opinionativeness1743
egotism1800
swell-head1845
big-head1850
big-headedness1850
self-opinionedness1879
swollen head1898
swelled-headedness1907
ikeyness1911
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > lasciviousness or lust > [noun] > lecherousness or lechery
lecheryc1230
lecherheda1325
lickerousnessc1380
lecherness?c1510
caterwauling1530
ruttery1567
cockishness1573
palliardise1581
routerya1600
salacity1605
saltness1611
catting1681
tomcatting1886
whorehopping1916
skirt patrol1941
skirt-chasing1950
1573 G. Harvey Let.-bk. (1884) 26 Whi [they] uppon a meere cockishnes..in mi absenc flatly deniid me.
1862 C. Darwin Let. 24 Dec. in Corr. (1997) X. 598 Many thanks for sight of Dawson's letter: he does not show cockishness towards you.
1915 Cumberland (Maryland) Press 13 Feb. 4/4 When it comes to cockishness there is no equal to the United States.
2015 Times (Nexis) 12 Sept. (Mag.) 14 Some things women don't get... Men who wear thumb rings (maybe that's just me, but my tip is it's surprisingly revealing of cockishness).
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1551