cocktail

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A mixed alcoholic beverage.

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

2. 2
   noun

   A mixture of other substances or things.

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

3. 3
   noun

   A horse, not of pure breed, but having only one eighth or one sixteenth impure blood in its veins.

   A “cock-tail” is a horse not purely bred, but with only one-eighth or one-sixteenth impure blood in his veins

4. 4
   noun

   A mean, half-hearted fellow.

   It was in the second affair that poor little Barney showed he was a cocktail.

5. 5
   adj

   Ostentatiously lacking in manners.

   It looks very cocktail to be seen riding through the streets of London in a scarlet coat ;

6. 6
   verb

   To treat (a person) to cocktails.

   He dined and cocktailed her at the most exclusive bars and restaurants.

7. 7
   noun

   an appetizer served as a first course at a meal

8. 8
   noun

   a short mixed drink

Etymology

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.