Third-person singular present tense of coquet, meaning to flirt playfully or act in a teasing manner to gain attention.
From French 'coquet,' derived from 'coque' (rooster), referencing a rooster's showy behavior. The term evolved to describe flirtatious behavior, particularly affecting romantic interest without serious intent.
The word literally comes from rooster behavior—roosters strut and show off to attract hens, so when we say someone 'coquets,' we're comparing them to a bird doing a flirtatious display. It's a perfect example of how animal behavior gave us vocabulary for human social games.
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