coquette Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men
    minx; prickteaser; tease; vamper; flirt; vamp.
  2. verb talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions
    butterfly; coquet; mash; flirt; romance; philander; dally; chat up.
    • The guys always try to chat up the new secretaries
    • My husband never flirts with other women

WordNet

Co*quette" noun
Etymology
F., fr. coquet, coquette, coquettish, orig., cocklike, strutting like a cock, fr. coq a cock. Cf. Cock, Cocket, Cocky, Cockade.
Definitions
  1. A vain, trifling woman, who endeavors to attract admiration from a desire to grafity vanity; a flirt; -- formerly sometimes applied also to men.
  2. (Zoöl.) A tropical humming bird of the genus Lophornis, with very elegant neck plumes. Several species are known. See Illustration under Spangle, v. t.

Webster 1913