cocktail

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A mixed alcoholic drink, usually made from spirits combined with fruit juice or other flavours.

   They visited a bar known for its wide range of cocktails.

2. 2
   noun

   A mixture of different substances or things, often an unpleasant or unexpected one.

   Scientists found a cocktail of pollutants in the river downstream from the factory.

3. 3
   noun

   A small dish of food, often seafood or fruit, served as a starter at a meal.

   We started the dinner with a delicious prawn cocktail.

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 stimulant (gingering), hence a stimulating 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.

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