Cockily: meaning, definitions and examples

The word 'cockily' is derived from the noun 'cocky', which was first recorded in the late 18th century, around the 1770s. The term 'cocky' originally referred to a male bird, particularly a rooster, that would strut about in a proud or boastful manner. This notion of a proud and showy demeanor eventually transferred to describe people who exhibit similar characteristics. The suffix '-ly' is a common English adverbial ending, allowing for the creation of adverbs from adjectives. By the 19th century, 'cockily' became established as a way to describe actions imbued with that sense of overconfidence or arrogance. Over time, it has often been used in informal contexts to imply a sense of bravado or swagger.

At position #40,998, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.

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• 40995 mandrill
• 40996 dissatisfy
• 40997 tantalised
• 40998 cockily
• 40999 nepenthe
• 41000 nonnumerical
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