cocktail

Meaning

Noun

1. A mixed alcoholic beverage.
2. A mixture of other substances or things.
3. A horse, not of pure breed, but having only one eighth or one sixteenth impure blood in its veins.
4. (slang) A mean, half-hearted fellow.
5. A species of rove beetle, so called from its habit of elevating the tail.

Adj

Ostentatiously lacking in manners.

Verb

1. To adulterate (fuel, etc.) by mixing in other substances.
2. To treat (a person) to cocktails.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkɒk.teɪl/

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 simulant (gingering), hence a simulating 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.