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coquetry: msg#00018

culture.language.word-of-the-day

Subject: coquetry

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The Word of the Day for September 19 is:

coquetry \KOH-kuh-tree\ noun
: a flirtatious act or attitude

Example sentence:
In a not-so-subtle act of coquetry, Nancy smiled flirtatiously and winked
at Scott as she walked past him.

Did you know?
The rooster's cocky attitude has given him a reputation for arrogance and
promiscuity. It has also given English several terms for people whose behavior
is reminiscent of that strutting barnyard fowl. The noun "coquet" comes from
French, where it is a diminutive of "coq," the French word for rooster.
Originally, in the 1600s, English speakers used "coquet" to describe men who
indulged in trifling flirtations. Today "coquet" can refer to male or female
flirts (though "coquette," the French feminine form, is more commonly used for
flirtatious women), and "coquetry" can refer to flirtation by men or women.







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