coquetry

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 14, 2023 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>coquetry</strong> &#149; \KOH-kuh-tree\&nbsp; &#149; <em>noun</em><br /> <p><em>Coquetry</em> means “a flirtatious act or attitude.”</p> <p>// She enjoys using Valentine’s Day as an opportunity for playful gifts and <em>coquetry</em>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coquetry">See the entry ></a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>“The skirt is made of bridal satin, a fabric with a brilliant appearance and a thickness that provides volume. It is typically decorated with ribbons, <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/organza">organza</a>, and pleated lace details. The three-inch heels that the women wear when performing the dance are visible at the bottom of the skirt—a demure bit of <em>coquetry</em>. A game of attraction is central to this dance ...” — Fernanda Pérez Sánchez, <em>Vogue</em>, 8 Aug. 2022</p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p>The rooster’s <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cocky">cocky</a> attitude has given him a reputation for arrogance and promiscuity. It has also given the English language several terms for people whose behavior is reminiscent of that strutting barnyard fowl. <em>Coquetry</em> comes to us from the French word <em>coquetterie</em>, which means “flirtation.” The related noun <em>coquet</em> also comes from French, where it is a <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diminutive">diminutive</a> of <em>coq</em>, the French word for rooster. Originally, in the 1600s, English speakers used <em>coquet</em> to describe men who indulged in <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trifling">trifling</a> flirtations. Today, you likely won’t hear <em>coquet</em> used only to refer to men. <em>Coquet</em> can also be used interchangeably with <em>coquet