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  1. cockalorum love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. A little man with an unduly high opinion of himself.
  2. n. Boastful talk; braggadocio.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. A person of consequence; a self-important person.

Wiktionary

  1. n. A menial, yet self-important man, empty boaster.
  2. n. The game leapfrog.
  3. n. A boastful speech.

Etymologies

  1. Probably from a Dutch dialectal kockeloeren an onomatopeia; hence modern Dutch verb koekeloeren ("to crow"). (Wiktionary)
  2. Perhaps alteration (influenced by Latin -ōrum, genitive pl. ending) of obsolete Flemish kockeloeren, to crow, of imitative origin. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

  • “For "cockalorum," be it noted, we frequently substituted the name of some particularly obnoxious master.”

    My Days of Adventure The Fall of France, 1870-71

  • “No trespassers allowed -- eh, what? young cockalorum.”

    The Dark House

  • “Now, Lucas, dear boy," said Heriot genially, "tell this old cockalorum who you saw off on a steamer for South America.”

    The Prodigal Father

  • “I suppose he thinks he's the grand high cockalorum!" she told herself, chuckling.”

    The Iron Woman

  • “Like so many of his fellows -- cultured moderns, alien to the larger forms of patriotism, that rich liquor brewed of maps and figures, commercial profit, and high-cockalorum, which served so perfectly to swell smaller heads -- Felix had a love of his native land resembling love for a woman,”

    The Freelands

  • “Hollo, young cockalorum, is it there you are!" shouted Pete.”

    The Manxman A Novel - 1895

  • “You must call it 'hot cockalorum,' and what this?" he went on, pointing to the water.”

    English Fairy Tales

  • “You'll be all right soon, my helpless old cockalorum," he cried cheerily.”

    Fix Bay'nets The Regiment in the Hills

  • “And he put on such high-cockalorum airs that I, bein 'as soft as mush around the heart, jest wilted and agreed to give him everything he bargained for if he would promise not to hinder.”

    A Chosen Few Short Stories

  • “I really do try to behave, but I have my cockalorum set for 11 p.m., and when it goes off ...”

    Latest Articles

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Words that contain this word in their definition

  1. high-cockalorum

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  • jinglebelljosie noun
    1. a young cockerel
    2. a boastful but little person Oct 28, 2008

  • mercy A boastful and self-important person; boastful talk

    citation Sep 5, 2008

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‘cockalorum’ has been looked up 2879 times, loved by 4 people, added to 23 lists, commented on 2 times, and has a Scrabble score of 20.