cocktail
A mixed alcoholic beverageA mixed alcoholic beverage.
» That cocktail is sweet and easy to drink.
Коктейль солодкий та легко п'ється.
Meaning
5 sensesA mixed alcoholic beverage.
They visited a bar noted for its wide range of cocktails.
Cocktail
кокте́йльkoktɛ́jlʹ, кокте́льkoktɛ́lʹ
кокте́йльkoktéjlʹ
a short mixed drink
(broadly, figuratively)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
A horse, not of pure breed, but having only one eighth or one sixteenth impure blood in its veins.
(UK, dated, slang)A mean, half-hearted fellow.
A species of rove beetle, so called from its habit of elevating the tail.
Examples
106 sentencesThat cocktail is sweet and easy to drink.
Коктейль солодкий та легко п'ється.
Tom drank three cocktails.
Том випив три коктейлі.
ruТом выпил три коктейля.
I fixed myself a cocktail.
Я зробив собі коктейль.
ruЯ сделал себе коктейль.
Tom handed a cocktail to Mary.
ruТом вручил коктейль Мэри.
deTom reichte Maria einen Cocktail.
Can I get you a cocktail?
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
Early 17th century, from cock (“male bird”) + tail, in the sense “(a horse with its) tailEarly 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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