Forms: 7 coquetterie, -queterie, 7–8 -quettery, -quettry, 8– coquetry. [a. F. coquetterie (not in Cotgr.), f. coqueter to COQUET.]
1. The action or behavior of a coquette; the use of arts intended to excite the admiration or love of the opposite sex, without any intention of responding to the feelings awakened.
At its first adoption used more in the earlier F. sense of pretty or attractive pertness in women.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Coguetterie (Fr.), the prattle or twattle of a pert Gossip or Minx.
1673. S. C., Art of Complaisance, xii. 135. This pretty gossiping humour in women, the French call by the name of Coqueterie.
1697. Vanbrugh, Prov. Wife, I. i. Coquettry is one of the main ingredients in the natural composition of a woman.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Sat. Woman, Wks. 1730, I. 54. In vain your eyes with coquetry you arm.
1720. Gay, Poems (1745), II. 22. Yet let not us their loose coquett’ry blame, Women of every nation are the same.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, v. If there was any coquetry in the action, it was well disguised by the careless indifference of her manner.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., III. ix. Bella’s colour deepened over the little piece of coquetry she was checked in.
b. (with a and pl.) A coquettish act.
1748. Smollett, Rod. Rand., xlv. I was guilty of a thousand ridiculous coquetries.
1755. Eliz. Montagu, Lett., III. 320. An old batchelor and an old maid after twenty coquetteries, promising eternal love and constancy.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, xvi. 262. The boy … mimicked the shy coquetries of the girl.
2. fig. Coquetting with questions, parties, etc., without seriously espousing them.
1770. Junius Lett., xli. 212. There was much coquetry between the court and the attorney general.
1830. D’Israeli, Chas. I., III. iv. 53. There was a good deal of political coquetry in the patriotic independence of Sir Thomas Wentworth.
3. transf. Attractive prettiness, winsomeness as the result of art.
1864. D. G. Mitchell, Sev. Stor., 249. What a charming coquetry in the sheep and shepherdesses of Watteau.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 667. The house front … one coquetry Of coloured brick and carved stone!
