coquette
UK[kɒˈkɛt]US[koʊˈkɛt]
n
A woman who flirts lightheartedly with men to gain their admiration and attention.
v
To behave like a coquette; to flirt.
Morpheme Breakdown
coquet
te
coquet
flirtatious
te
Etymology
The word 'coquette' has a vivid and metaphorical origin in the French language. It is derived from 'coq', meaning "rooster", a bird known for its strutting and showy behavior to attract hens. The diminutive form 'coquet' was applied to a vain, flirtatious man, much like a rooster preening. By adding the feminine suffix '-te', the word specifically came to denote a woman who playfully engages in flirtation to attract admiration, carrying the core metaphor of showy, attention-seeking display from the barnyard into the realm of human social interaction.
Analysis
Structure: coquet + te
- coquet: From French 'coquet', the masculine form meaning "flirtatious" or "dandy", itself a diminutive of 'coq' (rooster).
- te: A French feminine suffix used to form the feminine noun from the masculine 'coquet'.
Examples
She had a reputation as a charming coquette in her youth.
He accused her of coquetting with every eligible bachelor at the ball.
The novel's heroine is more a sincere romantic than a mere coquette.