coquette means of or relating to a feminine style of clothing involving ribbons, frills, and bows.
coquette is pronounced /kɒˈkɛt/.
Why “coquette” is a great word
A woman who habitually flirts or plays with people's affections in a teasing, lighthearted manner. From the French coquette, the feminine diminutive of coq ("rooster, cock"), suggesting ostentation or preening; borrowed into English in the mid-17th century. Unlike a "flirt," which denotes a fleeting, singular act, or a "seductress," which implies a grave, calculating intent, the coquette cultivates a sustained, artful persona of scintillating refusal. She is the rustle of silk skirts just out of reach, the laugh that turns away before it finishes, the gloved hand withdrawn a moment too soon—all surface and evanescence, a masterpiece of delicate, devastating postponement.
Etymology
Borrowed from French coquette.
adj
- Of or relating to a feminine style of clothing involving ribbons, frills, and bows.e.g.“Frills, lace, bows, hearts, and ribbon (in excess!) are all part of the coquette look. […]”” — 2023 January 12, Hannah Oh, “What Exactly is the Coquette Aesthetic That’s Taking Over the Internet Right Now?”, in Seventeen, retrieved 05 Jan 2024:
noun
- A woman who flirts or plays with people's affections.
- Any hummingbird in the genus Lophornis.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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