What is the origin of the word Cocktail, where does it derive from.?

Question

What is the origin of the word Cocktail, where does it derive from.?

Answer 1

Origin seems to be unknown, but we use it today to mean a mixture so my guess is its something to do with the tail of a peacock, which is a mixture of different colours.

Answer 2

A cocktail is a mixed drink usually of spirits and fruit juices etc.  The tail of a cockerel is brightly coloured to attract the hen, thus cocktail - a brightly coloured drink etc.

The origins of the word 'cocktail' are still in open debate. . . .

http://www.drinkfocus.com/articles/cockt...

. . . .but my explanation seems plausible.

Answer 3

First, the "bad" news (From Dictionary.com):

<< Origin: 1800–10, Americanism; orig. obscure; none of numerous attempts to explain the orig. of this word or its relationship to cocktail(2) have won general acceptance >>

Now, the "good" news (From Dictionary.com, too):

<< first attested 1806; H.L. Mencken lists seven versions of its origin, perhaps the most persuasive is Fr. coquetier "egg-cup." In New Orleans, c.1795, Antoine Amédée Peychaud, an apothecary (and inventor of Peychaud bitters) held Masonic social gatherings at his pharmacy, where he mixed brandy toddies with his own bitters and served them in an egg-cup. The drink took the name of the cup, in Eng. cocktay. Cocktail party first attested 1928. >>

Note: Cocktail(2) refers to the following definition of "cocktail": << a horse with a docked tail.  >>

Answer 4

first attested 1806; H.L. Mencken lists seven versions of its origin, perhaps the most persuasive is Fr. coquetier "egg-cup." In New Orleans, c.1795, Antoine Amédée Peychaud, an apothecary (and inventor of Peychaud bitters) held Masonic social gatherings at his pharmacy, where he mixed brandy toddies with his own bitters and served them in an egg-cup. The drink took the name of the cup, in Eng. cocktay. Cocktail party first attested 1928.