cockscomb

Meaning

1. A fleshy red crest of a rooster
2. A red cap once worn by court jesters
3. A yellow rattle, Rhinanthus minor (flowering plant native to Eurasia)
4. An annual garden plant (Celosia argentea var. cristata, syn. Celosia cristata), having showy red clusters of flowers
5. (archaic) A conceited dandy
6. A serrated cleat once fitted to the yards of a square-rigged ship and used when the sail was being reefed

Synonyms

coxcomb

crest

Celosia cristata

common cockscomb

comb

red fox

amaranth

Celosia argentea cristata

swank

whippersnapper

dunce cap

dunce’s cap

kohleria

name of flower

feathered amaranth

morosoph

motley fool

silver cock’s comb

cockscomb pyrite

bighead

buffoon

fool

fool’s cap

gull

prig

relish

Translations

Hahnenkamm

crête

crête de coq

λειρί

crista

hanenkam

cresta

Celosia argentea

λειρί πετεινού

prétentieux

عُرْف الدِّيك

vantard

présomptueux

célasie à crête

άνθρωπος κουφός

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: cokkes comb

In summary

From Middle English cokkes comb; equivalent to cock + -s- + comb.