noun
cockade
kok-AYD
Cockade (noun) means a decorative knot or rosette of ribbon pinned to a hat, often to show rank or membership of a group. Example: “The footman's hat carried a small black cockade.”
noun
1
A decorative knot or rosette of ribbon pinned to a hat, often to show rank or membership of a group.
"The footman's hat carried a small black cockade."
"Guests at the ball wore cockades in the colours of their house."
"She pinned a cockade to her coat to mark the anniversary."
2
technical A circular emblem of coloured rings painted on an aircraft to show which country it belongs to.
"The fighter plane bore a cockade on each wing."
"Historians can date old aircraft photographs by the style of cockade shown."
How to use cockade
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIt is a ribbon badge worn on a hat, or the coloured circle badge painted on a plane.
When to use it
The hat-ribbon sense sounds old-fashioned or historical, while the aviation sense is still in current technical use.
Memory tip
Link the aviation sense to its synonym roundel, which is the more common word today.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
wear a cockade
black cockade
aircraft cockade
pin on a cockade
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The footman's hat carried a small black _____.
Etymology
The word is a partial adaptation of a French term for the same kind of ribbon rosette.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for cockade
See all rhymes for cockade →Frequently asked questions
What is a cockade?
It is a rosette or knot of ribbon worn on a hat, traditionally used to show an office, rank or allegiance.
What does a cockade mean on an aircraft?
On an aircraft, a cockade is a circular emblem of coloured rings that identifies the country the aircraft belongs to.
Is cockade the same as roundel?
When used for the emblem on an aircraft, cockade and roundel refer to the same thing.
What is the meaning of cockade?
"cockade" (noun) means a decorative knot or rosette of ribbon pinned to a hat, often to show rank or membership of a group.
