Cocks·comb n.
 1. See Coxcomb.
 2. Bot. A plant (Celosia cristata), of many varieties, cultivated for its broad, fantastic spikes of brilliant flowers; -- sometimes called garden cockscomb. Also the Pedicularis, or lousewort, the Rhinanthus Crista-galli, and the Onobrychis Crista-galli.

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 Cox·comb n.
 1. (a) A strip of red cloth notched like the comb of a cock, which licensed jesters formerly wore in their caps. (b) The cap itself.
 2. The top of the head, or the head itself.
 We will belabor you a little better,
 And beat a little more care into your coxcombs.   --Beau  & Fl.
 3. A vain, showy fellow; a conceited, silly man, fond of display; a superficial pretender to knowledge or accomplishments; a fop.
 Fond to be seen, she kept a bevy
 Of powdered coxcombs at her levee.   --Goldsmith.
 Some are bewildered in the maze of schools,
 And some made coxcombs, nature meant but fools.   --Pope.
 4. Bot. A name given to several plants of different genera, but particularly to Celosia cristata, or garden cockscomb. Same as Cockscomb.

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 Celosia cristata
      n : garden annual with featherlike spikes of red or yellow
          flowers [syn: cockscomb, common cockscomb, {Celosia
          argentea cristata]