| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Coxcomb. | | |
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An empty-headed, vain person. The ancient licensed jesters were so called because they wore a cock’s comb in their caps. | 1 |
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| “Coxcombs, an ever empty race, |
| Are trumpets of their own disgrace.” | |
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| “Let me hire him too; here’s my coxcomb.” | |
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Shakespeare: King Lear, i. 4. |
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The Prince of Coxcombs. Charles Joseph, Prince de Ligne. (1535–1614.) | 2 |
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Richard II. of England is sometimes called the Coxcomb. (1366, 1377–1400.) | 3 |
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Henri III. of France was called le Mignon, which means pretty well the same thing. (1551, 1574–1589.) | 4 |
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