cocktail · Contextualize

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.

Definitions

1
A mixed alcoholic beverage.
- They visited a bar noted for its wide range of cocktails.
- [...] a certain candidate has placed in his account of Loss and Gain, the following items:-- LOSS [...] 411 glasses bitters[,] 25 do. cock-tail
2
A mixture of other substances or things.
- Scientists found a cocktail of pollutants in the river downstream from the chemical factory.
- a cocktail of illegal drugs
- Motor vehicles, for example, emit a cocktail of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, particulates, heavy metals and (for diesel) sulphur dioxide.
3
A horse, not of pure breed, but having only one eighth or one sixteenth impure blood in…
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
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1. 4
  A mean, half-hearted fellow.
  - It was in the second affair that poor little Barney showed he was a cocktail.
2. A species of rove beetle, so called from its habit of elevating the tail.
3. 6
  Ostentatiously lacking in manners.
  - It looks very cocktail to be seen riding through the streets of London in a scarlet coat ;
  - The Prince had nothing particular about him but a monstrous smart whip with a gold stag for a handle, which was pronounced a very cocktail looking instrument by the Leicestershire farmers, with whom His Serene Highness is no favorite
  - She always goes about with a brace of loaded revolvers in her belt!! Very cocktail and no occasion for it
4. To adulterate (fuel, etc.) by mixing in other substances.
5. 8
  To treat (a person) to cocktails.
  - He dined and cocktailed her at the most exclusive bars and restaurants.

The neighborhood

neighborswizzle

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at cocktail. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

A definitional loop anchored at cocktail. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

6 hops · closes at cocktail

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

Etymology

Definitions

The neighborhood

Derived

Vish — recursive loop